Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-09
The Times-D Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
The Sabbath Made for Man
by J. \. l':ubank.

Sabbath.-Mark 7:27-2s.
No Intelligent. reasonable person can offer
any valid objection To Il proper observance
OF every seventh day as Il period oil rest for
tho people, suited To their various needs for
recreation, and the language quoted from the
lips of the one Individual who has done more
than amy other to free mankind from tho
slavery Of customs and supcrs,itions that
restrain the joy OF living implies that man
himself is to he the judge us to what comsti-
tutcs rest" to him. The son OF man. from
thar teaching, is in very truth lord also Of
the sabbath.
II we accept the Bible account, of the in
stitution Of the day. Divine wisdom fore
saw its economic necessity to hunanity's
welfare. and in ordaining IL from the crca-
'ti"n Of the world set the example for it's OBJ
s'crvancc by himself resting on the seventh
day after nnishing the work OF creation.
Hence, ii may he taken for granted that
those nations which had passed from tho
stage Of harbarism long anterior To Moscs'
time had recognized It's economic value and
observed II in such manner AZ they deemed
best suited To their particular nccdf. Doubt
less the religious motive had more or less
{" do with influencing the form Of it's OBJ
scrNnncc.
Moses, who as the adopted son into the
royal family Of the rharaohs acquired the
knowledge possessed hy the highest civi'iza-
ton Of the age, rccornizcd the necessity for
such II rest day for the people whom ho led
out OF bondage endured for several genera
lions at the hands Of the Egyptians. and in
promulratinE the law for its observance
tinEcd the command with respect thereto. as
he did the various other commandments. with
religious mysticism suited to the Hebrew
view of the reverence due by them to
Yahwch. the God OF their salvation. Moses
proposed to build up Il great nation of rec-
Pie, aud his educational training in Egypt
splendidly equipped him for that undertake
ing. Ills ultimate object. therefore. in en-
joining the observance of the day was To ac-
complish the great economic purpose OF con-
serving the physical energies Of the Hebrew
people with the view of cmanicipating them
from every form Of needless slavery to toll
TO teach them to know and to taste liberty
in the fullest meaning OF the term.
That the Sabbath was ordained as u day
OF rest from economic necessity recognized
by him. is easily apparent when we rcmcm-
Der that it included the animal creation as
well. Not only SO, but a sabbath day was
commanded for the land also. Speak unto
the children OF Israel. and say unto them.
When We come into the land which giva
You, then shall the land keep a Sabbath unto
the Lord. Six years thou shalt sow thy
field. ana six years thou shalt prunc thy
vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;
hut in the seventh year shall he a Sabbath
OF rest unto the land, a sabbath for tho Lord:
thou shalt neither SOW thy field. nor pruue
thy vineyard"
Sound economic policy necessarily involves
the religious principle. hence 1t may he af-
hrmcd that true economies from the social
vicwpoin, implies tho application ~ the fund
am"nial teachings of true religion.
Under pricstly authority and the steady
growth of it's power and c%upidity. the regila-
lions for tho Sabbath Increased in number
and severity until the obligation To rest"
was made To include the prohibition Of al
most everything requiring physical effort. In
this Wly ". ,pll ,b. Callu,n ,,,i,.
an austcre character. at least in appearance,
which was relieved only hy the Intensity Of
the religious spirit with which the Jews en-
tered unon the ritual prescribed FOR the dav.
and by the opportunity IL afforded for family
reunions, which became one OF the features
of tn" day. From Judaism the institution
passed OF to Christianity with a change OF
the day from the seventh to the first day
OF the week, as communicating the rcsur-
rcction Of Jesus. From the austcrity tn
which IL had been carried. we see from tho
text and It's collateral reading that Jesus re-
bcllcd.
In the haggling that has subsequently, en-
sued for the sanctinonious ohScrva nee OF the
day. modern religious teachers have out
stripped the priesthood of the Gallilcnn's day.
ANA some OF them are complaining TINT IL is
being so horribly dcsccrttcI by those who
seek rest and recreation after their own
ideas as to their needs as to threaten The
complete overthrow of our Christian insti-
tuti"ns," Such an admission Is a poor com
pliincnt 10 the value Of "Chris,ian inStruc-
ton" for nearly two thousand years.
We take il. therefore, that it was never
intended that humanity should fold its arms
and look solemn from sunset to sunset every
seventh day Of the week. Indeed, we are not
so cocksurc tina, the miraculous draught OF
fishes" was not taken on the seventh day of
the week.
Rest and recreation logically involve the
element OF pleasure. TO tn. attainment of
which all nature contributes In it's wcll-or-
dercd processes. With some people. the sus-
pension of all physical cxcr,ion would mean
anything else than rest. To the man whose
avocation has brought into exercise his now
crs Of physical endurance. rest necessarily
means suspension of the activities Of the
week. lie needs rccupcrat icn-that form of
recreation which Will renew his strength.
and as the mind is the sou! of the man.
that mind ought to be capable of deciding
what is hest for his needs IN that respcct
Why should man not 20 out when oppor-
tunity offers where the birds are singing
and the flowers are hlossoming. and enjoy
himself with Mother Nature: The immortal
Shakespeare says:
And this our life. exempt from public haunt..
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running
brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
Jesus thought 50. hcnc" he boldly pro-
claimed the truth thatNthe Sahbn,h was made