THE SABBATH--DO WE KEEP IT HOLY ?
By A. S. HUTCHINS
"REMEMBER the Sabbath-day to keep it holy," is the divine command. And many very precious promises are made to those who obey it. Says the Prophet, "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Isa. lviii, 13, 14. But do we keep the Sabbath according to the fourth commandment? Do we keep it according to the instruction of the above text? Is the Sabbath a delight unto us? Are we quite careful to do no more work upon this sacred day than necessity or mercy demands? Are we watchful of ourselves that we do not do our own ways, nor find our own pleasure, nor speak our own words? These and similar questions have often revolved in my mind respecting myself, and sometimes respecting brethren and sisters. And at times I have feared that some of us might be fonnd destitne of that love for the holy Sabbath which we should possess. "Love," says the Apostle, "is the fulfilling of the law." What then will it avail to talk of obedience to the commandments of God, if we have not love for them? "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John v, 3. That the Sabbath-day is not observed according to the commandment by some families is certain to my mind. Ordinary daily labor is suffered sometimes to crowd so hard upon the hours of the Sabbath, that more or less chores are left on Sixth-day to be done after the Sabbath commences, which should have been done before. Why neglect these duties, brethren and sisters, till the return of the Sabbath? Why not do them earlier? Could not time enough be taken on Sixth-day for it? We are sure that some might redeem time enough on this day for this purpose, if they were diligent in business, or visited less, or had shorter noonings, or made their absence shorter from home. "Study to show thyself approved unto God," is the exhortation of the Apostle. If this be our constant aim, I think we shall have a love for the sacred Rest-day, which will lead us to make all possible preparations to keep it holy, when it returns. We may then commence it in the spirit of the following lines: "Another six days' work is done,
Another Sabbath is begun;
Return, my soul, enjoy thy rest,
Improve the day that God has blest." Not only will it be the delight of those who sincerely love the Sabbath of the Lord, to commence it in a proper manner, but also to keep every hour of it holy. But this we fear again is not always done. By some, chores are commenced in the house, at the barn and other buildings, before the close of the Sabbath, which we are sure might be done after its close. There is a sweet and happy satisfaction in spending the hours of the sanctified Rest-day with those who keep it according to the commandment. With its return all is calm and peaceful. "Hushed is the tumult of the day,
And worldly cares and labors cease;
While soft the vesper breezes play,
To hymn the glad return of peace;
Delightful season, kindly given,
To turn the wandering thoughts to heaven." In conclusion, we would ask each brother and sister if our convictions are erroneous or hasty, that a reform is necessary on this subject? If not, shall it not commence now? "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." Let us watch our words and actions on this holy day, and see that we do all things to the glory of God. Each closing Sabbath leaves a record for or against us. O may it be for us, that we may all finally enter into the rest that remaineth for the people of God.