XVII. Keep The Sabbath Day Holy.

The laws of God are not arbitrary. Every commandment is as reasonable as it is divine. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandments holy, and just, and good; having as much regard to the well-being of man, as to the honor and glory of God. Their tendency in every instance is evidently beneficial; and he who breaks them, not only sins against God, but wrongs his own soul. They enjoin nothing but what is conducive to man’s happiness, nor prohibit anything but what would ultimately injure him, so that the observance of every command of God, is as much our interest, as our duty.

The Sabbath is a great blessing to mankind. It is well adapted to his fallen condition. It gives him rest from labors, and anxiety, and affords him time to acquire a knowledge of his Author, and destination, and to prepare for that Eternal rest which is at God’s right hand. Therefore remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy: six days thou shalt 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 any stranger that is within thy gate.

There are many ways in which we may break the Sabbath. It is not confined to buying, or selling goods, running cars, or vessels, cheese factories, or patronizing any of these on God’s holy day; neither is it confined to blacking boots, shaving, getting up extra dinners, polishing stoves, or knives and forks. Truly in these God is dishonored, and his laws broken. We are not to visit on the Lord’s day, except in a real cause of mercy. If to help the sick, or to relieve the needy, it is right; but if we neglect the sick on week days, because we cannot afford the time, or practice a little self denial, and take the Sabbath for this purpose, we are guilty before God.

Many seem to think they can visit a brother or sister on the Sabbath, and spend one, two, or more hours, in religious conversation. Is not the Sabbath, a day of rest? Ought we not, after attending the usual means of grace, to spend the remaining part of the day, in reading God’s word, in meditation, and in prayer before Him. These hours, are sacred to every child of God, and should not be lost, or their sanctity destroyed, by thoughtless visitors. The day is often profaned, by visiting at church, before and after services. How painful, to see men and women, professedly saints, standing around the door, grouped together in the aisles, visiting on God’s holy day. Brother, sister, ought you not as soon as you enter the church, commence a prayer meeting, and let it continue until time for preaching. How much better to enter upon this solemn service, with hearts burning with the love of God, and a faith that brings conviction down upon the hearts of sinners, and holds up the preacher while he is proclaiming God’s eternal truth; where this is done the shouts of victory will be heard. Works of piety, may be done on the Sabbath, but we may not do our own works, or lean to our own ways. We are not to travel on the Lord’s day, except on works of mercy, or on works of piety, and this may be determined by the necessities of the case. If to relieve the sick, or help the needy, all right. But is it right for those that attend our quarterly meetings, general or otherwise, to remain until after the morning service, and then hitch up, and drive five, ten, twenty, or more miles, on Sabbath afternoon and evening, to reach their homes; is it not in opposition to the law, which says, Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. I think it is. I know some that practice this, claim that it is necessary. Not long since, a load of “Pilgrims,” (I think eight, or ten,) came to a general quarterly meeting, where I was stationed. Immediately after the morning service they commenced preparations for returning home Sabbath afternoon. They were urged to remain, and not break the Lord’s day; they thought it necessary, and so they started, but were caught in a snow storm, and detained just as long as they would have been had they kept the Sabbath and remained at the meeting. There are other cases of this kind, where disappointment, and loss resulted from this course of action. But if there is no pecuniary loss by such actions, there is great loss to the soul, and to the cause of Christ. Another reason why one should remain over the Sabbath, is, all the strength of the meeting is needed on Sabbath evening; the interest of the meeting has been on the increase, conviction on the hearts of the unsaved has become more intense, some have almost decided to say, “I yield, I yield.” God’s saving power is hovering over precious souls, but it still needs, a steady, unwavering faith in God. A mighty faith, a united faith, and the whole faith of the church, to bring the victory; and just when help is most needed, (I mean human, for God works by means) the laborers are scattered in various directions, wending their way home.

“If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasures 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 pleasures, 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.”