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THE SABBATH

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 5, 1861

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 18, No. 23.

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THE SABBATH.

By J. Clarke

It is cheering to contemplate the movement on the Sabbath question, that God's law is honored in preference to tradition and human enactments. It is good to sit down in heavenly conversation with those who have left their former relations with corrupt churches, and have made it their home with the worshipers of God and respecters of law—with those who bow to God's decree.
As we look over a careless, stupid, worldly church, and a lost world, it rests and delights the eye, and comforts the heart, to view a company scattered throughout the land who are of one heart and mind on this important point. It is a great comfort, too, to realize the fact that many of those who have embraced this important, sealing truth, are very strict in carrying out the spirit of the law, as far as human efforts are availing in honoring this sacred and ancient institution, in keeping holy the whole Sabbath, in its opening, its continuation, and close; all is hallowed, and as far as possible is made holy; no worldly thoughts or conversation, or secular allusions, are allowed to pollute this time which God has declared to be holy.
Such close up their worldly affairs at an early hour on sixth-day, and as the time-piece (which is kept in repair by the great Architect) marks the opening of this holy festival, as the bright, warm sun sinks in lustrous glory in the west, you will find such individuals, or families, wrapt in devout worship of Him who made the worlds, who gave luster and warmth to the dazzling sun; of him who clothed the earth in beauty, and endowed it with motion, swift, exact, silent, and graceful, and peopled it with inhabitants; of him who spread out the heavens as a curtain, who set the stars in their courses, and regulates all.
Such well know the design of the Sabbath. They understand its nature and obligation; and, learning this from the word of God, and practicing on this knowledge, it is given to them to experience richly of its benefits. The Sabbath was not made in vain: it was made for man in its first intent; and God will see that they who keep it in its letter and spirit, do not do so in vain. No: it is not in vain to serve God. He whose eyes run to and fro in the earth, to make himself strong in behalf of those who fear him, well considers such as venerate his whole law, and honor his name, in saluting with joy his holy Sabbath.
Such as thus observe the Sabbath do obtain a blessing unknown to, and unrealized by, the careless, slack Sabbath-keeper, who allows the week to tread heavily upon both boundaries of the Sabbath; whose conversation is unguarded on this day; whose thoughts run unchecked upon worldly themes; whose worldly arrangements are often mixed with Sabbath exercises, and whose holy things are thus rendered obnoxious in the sight of that holy One whose glance views the hidden springs and motives of word and act, and surveys the whole web of life, as it is woven thread by thread, and in like manner transferred by angels to the annals of eternity.
Alas! some who are among Sabbath-keepers have as yet very inadequate ideas as to the sanctity of the Sabbath. Because it "was made for man," therefore they infer that the Sabbath is only another Sunday, in which they may indulge in many liberties; a day that may be clipped at all its corners, as the rapacious broker clips the shining golden eagle.
Like the worldly Israelite who watched with eagerness for the sun to go down that he might set forth his wares for sale, so it is to be feared that many now are so anxious about their worldly affairs, that their minds are burdened with secular plans during holy time, and as the day draws to its close, such have an increase of anxiety and care to that degree that the scrutinizing eye of Jehovah may read therein, "When will the Sabbath be gone?"
O, how such sacrifices smell in the sight of God! How worse than vain the offering thus polluted in the sense of him who will not accept the blind, and lame, and blemished, but requires the choicest, cheerfully given, as an offering.
Why should he not require the perfect? Did not all proceed from his good hand, perfect at first? Sin has marred his work; and shall we take the subject most marred by sin, and insult Jehovah thus by saying, Here is the best I can afford? Does he thus present his gifts to men? Look at the tree laden with fair, delicious fruit, perfect and good; see the flocks and herds, the iron, the copper, the silver, the gold, the grains, the herbs, and vegetables; how perfect when sin does not stain them with its curse; and say, Shall we give less than our hearts' best, purest service?
J. CLARKE.