THE SIN OF SABBATH-BREAKING.
By J. Lamont
It is very strange that any of those who confess their allegiance to the Creator, and especially that any who have accepted the Sabbath under the third angel’s message, should regard the sin of Sabbath-breaking as a light thing. Yet some of these appear willing to profane God’s holy day. Some do this in one way, some in another. Some continue their own work too long, and thus infringe on the Sabbath as it first comes to them, while others can hardly wait till it is past before they are at business. Chores is it? Well, the sun will go down if you wait. Again, others transgress by their worldly conversation. “Speaking our own words” on the time the Lord has reserved to himself is a sin of the same rank as doing our own work on the same day. But the strangest of all is that some (I am glad that I know of but few such) can find business of sufficient importance to lead them openly to profane one of God’s holy Sabbaths occasionally, reasoning that the circumstances justify them in so doing. Remember that “he that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him.” “Come now, let us reason together,” and be not “partial in the law.” The Lord says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Do not circumstances arise under which this command may be disregarded? Daniel did not appear to think so, and because he was faithful to his God in this respect, he was delivered from harm when his enemies thought to destroy him. “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as [because] before him innocency was found in me.” Bowing down to images is never excusable, or the three young Israelitish noblemen would not have found themselves “cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.” It does not appear that the early Christians thought it safe to profane the name of the Lord even under the most trying circumstances, but when compelled to blaspheme they fled “to strange cities.” Can children disobey their parents, and yet maintain a Christian life? Do circumstances occasionally arise under which we may commit murder, adultery, theft, and speak falsehood? And may we covet our neighbor’s goods if he is rich and we are very poor? God forbid! Is not the Sabbath equally sacred? Does not the fourth commandment demand as explicit obedience as the other nine? One illustration must suffice,—the escape of the Christians from Judea in A. D. 70. “Pray ye,” said Jesus, “that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day.” But their lives depended on their immediate action, yet they were to ask the Lord so to overrule matters that their opportunity of escape would not occur on the Sabbath. The same Jesus is our Saviour. Let us obey him carefully, and leave the result in his hands. He is able and willing to defend and care for us, and he has said he would do it. If the Lord be God, follow him.