“Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy.”
By J. CLARKE
PEOPLE have been accustomed to regard the first day of the week as a day of relaxation from labor, a day of religious worship and of worldly conversation, a day of visiting and receiving visitors, a day to nap, or sing, or read, or in any customary way, to amuse one's self. In fact, the Christian Sabbath, as it is styled by so-called orthodox divines, is a sort of scrap-basket, into which is thrown all varieties of odds and remnants, until the idea of a holy Sabbath is esteemed by many as a relic of bigotry. A person with such ideas, who embraces the true Sabbath, is in great peril of losing wholly the blessing promised to those who hallow the Sabbath. He thinks it folly to be over-strict in this. On Sixth-day he works harder and later than usual, and the Sabbath is introduced amid disorder and bustle. Thus the mind is unfitted for meditation. Many little affairs come up for attention, and thus the Sabbath is violated, in doing that which pertains to the working days of the week. It brings no growth in grace, no spiritual vigor. To such the Sabbath appears a soulless skeleton, repulsive and unsightly. No wonder it becomes a weariness; no wonder prayer becomes a form, and spiritual death ensues. To him who keeps the day holy, after his Creator's example, how different! From even to even he rests, he prays, he meditates. O how glorious the works of Jehovah. Upon these he delights to dwell. He calls the Sabbath a delight, holy of the Lord, honorable, not indulging in selfish designs or thoughts, on this day. Thus he learns to anticipate heaven, and its holy employments; thus the soul is trained to holy thoughts, and aspirations; and thus he weekly cuts loose from the world, and is fitting by every means used, to meet the Lord.
J. CLARKE.