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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jun 28, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 26.

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EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 7.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

The Fourth Commandment.

"WELL, children," said Brother Hartman after their guests had gone, "how do you enjoy the readings? do you feel like giving them up?"
"Why father," replied Elsie, "I would not give them up for anything; and I think John feels as I do."
"I surely do," said John. "I find that the more I study the Bible the more interesting it grows."
"We like it, don't we, Beth?" chimed in Mattie, "and Josie said she has learned lots to-night."
"I'd like it ever so much better," said little Beth, "if I could read more of the verses. But I s'pose I'm too little!" she sighed.
"Why, you dear child," said grandma, "I'll tell you what you can do; you may learn a few verses and repeat them at the next lesson; that will be ever so nice."
"Why, yes," agreed papa; "Beth shall learn the Fourth Commandment and repeat it at the very beginning of the reading. It's pretty long, but I think my little girl can do it, and I suppose there are many ministers of the Gospel who are unable to quote it correctly."
It was very gratifying to see with what interest Beth studied her "commandment," as she called it; so that she had it perfectly learned in time for the next study.
With the lighting of the lamps on Wednesday evening, we are pleased to see an increase in the little circle which surround the table in the pleasant sitting-room at Brother Hartman's. True to her promise, Miss Josie, Mattie's close friend, has brought her father and mother, while Mr. and Mrs. Jones are in their places, Bibles in hand.
"Our subject to-night," began Brother Hartman, "is the Fourth Commandment of the Decalogue, as you will remember. Beth, my girl, are you prepared to repeat it now?"
"Yes, papa, with grandma's help I have learned it," said little Beth, as she rose and stood by her father's side, while she repeated slowly and distinctly:
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."
"Well done. Where do we find this command, Beth?"
"Yes, it was placed in the heart of the moral law by the great Jehovah. But it is often said that this law has been abolished. What have you to say to this, John?"
"I have this to say, father: If the Ten Commandments are done away, then it is not possible for men to sin by breaking one of them; hence we may steal or rob, or commit murder."
"How do you prove this, my son?"
Turning to Romans five, John read the last part of the thirteenth verse, "But sin is not imputed when there is no law."
"Good; will Mr. Wilbur please read Rom. 4:15; for in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word is established."
"For where no law is, there is no transgression," read Mr. Wilbur. "I rather think that's plain enough, Mr. Hartman; it seems to me that the moral law is just as necessary to-day as it ever was."
"Perhaps so," observed Mrs. Wilbur. "I suppose the moral law is considered the standard of morality, and yet it seems to me that that Fourth Commandment somehow has been destroyed, or perhaps changed by Christ or His apostles."
"Well, we will see if we can find something that Christ Himself has said on the subject. Josie, will you please turn to the fifth chapter of Matthew, and read, beginning with the seventeenth verse."
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Here, mama, you read the next verse," said Josie, and Mrs. Wilbur read slowly and thoughtfully:
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
"Why, mama, that's plain enough for even a little girl to understand. It doesn't sound much as if the Fourth Commandment was done away, does it?"
Mrs. Wilbur did not reply, and Brother Hartman continued:
"What is said of those who teach people to break even the very least of these precepts? Elsie, will you read the next verse?"
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven."
Josie gave her mother a quick glance, and Mrs. Wilbur said earnestly, "I have read those verses many times, and yet I never thought of their real meaning."
"It is quite natural, my friend," said Sister Hartman, "to do as we are taught to do in childhood; and this is one great reason why we are holding these studies with our children."
"Now," continued Brother Hartman, "I would like Mr. Jones to turn to Psalms 119, and read verse six."
"Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all Thy commandments."