p. 166 | The Sabbath by L. D. Santee

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 23, 1866

The Sabbath.

By L. D. Santee

What holy associations cluster around the Sabbath. What a pure, gentle influence settles down upon the soul as we engage in the worship of God. Even as the moon sails far above the murky depths of the sea, so our thoughts on the Sabbath rise far above the cares and perplexities of our daily life. The Sabbath seems to be a connecting link between man's lost inheritance and his promised possession.

How holy must the Sabbath have been in those sinless bowers, ere the trail of the serpent was visible on the young earth. But sin came, and with it, suffering and mortality. How precious must the Sabbath have been to Adam as an institution antedating his fall, and as a memorial of the Creator's rest. Following down through the lapse of years we can view in imagination the old white-haired patriarch, Abraham, standing in the door of his tent, with his family and servants gathered around him, while he instructed them more perfectly in the knowledge of God, as the Sabbath hours wore peacefully away. Long before church-bells ever rang, did those worthies keep the Sabbath, with the melody of nature around them, and the blessing of God resting upon them, as they performed their ancient and impressive service.

But we leave them behind as we travel in thought down the course of time, and a different scene next meets our gaze. Six hundred thousand of Israel's children engage in worship every Sabbath. Their religion is more grand and imposing, and instead of the silence formerly reigning, the loud blast of a trumpet rings out upon the fragrant air, as a nation's prayers ascend to Heaven. How solemn and impressive were those Sabbaths, and how beautiful to see the vapory smoke ascending from the sanctuary as the daily sacrifice was offered.

But again we pass on, and come to the time of the forerunner of Christ. In our minds we can see him standing on the banks of a gently-flowing river, clad in picturesque garments, while the deep, earnest tones of his voice arrest the attention of both old and young, rich and poor, and every Sabbath what a concourse of people assemble on the river banks, while the coming Messiah is preached.

We next view the interior of a large edifice crowded with people. There in the highest seat is the proud Pharisee. There we find the learned doctors of the Jewish sanhedrim. But all these fail to attract aught but a passing notice. The chief object of attention is a youthful teacher expounding the prophets and magnifying the law of God, as his custom afterward was every Sabbath. Luke iv, 16. In him we see the coming Shiloh, the Son of God, the Lord of the Sabbath. Mark ii, 28. We turn away with sad hearts as we think of his being rejected by his own chosen people. We notice him once more after the great Sacrifice had been offered, and a fountain opened in the house of David for sin and uncleanness. There he lies, cold and inanimate. Suffering has drawn deep lines of pain upon his beautiful features. His heart, which has so often bled for the infirmities of others, is at rest. As his disciples rest the Sabbath-day according to the commandment, they mourn in sadness to think that Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath, lies dead in Joseph's new tomb.

We should like to refer to the Sabbaths that Paul preached both to Jews and Gentiles, with all the earnest enthusiasm of his impetuous nature, but lack of space forbids. Let us look by faith to the fulfillment of the promise recorded in Isa. lxvi, 22, 23. We shall keep the Sabbath after all our toils and conflicts are over. Glory to the King of kings! In our unfading inheritance, all flesh shall come to worship from one Sabbath to another. Yea, saith God, none shall hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain. Isa. lxv, 25. And long after he has caused the arrogance of the proud to cease, and laid low the haughtiness of the terrible, the Sabbath will be observed where the wicked have ceased from troubling, and where the weary pilgrim enjoys the rest that remains for the people of God.

L. D. SANTEE.

Gridley, Ill.