Newspaper Page Text
8 THE PRESBYTERS
The Eskimo may maintain himself as a race for
years to come but it is not likely that his race will
increase on the Labrador, for his departure from the
life primitive may prove his undoing.
Should the Moravians ever find it necessary to give
up this work the Eskimo will find in Dr. Grenfell a
faithful friend and staunch helper at every time, even
as lip IS tltn oiTHr,r ?" ' 1 ? * 1
? ... ^ ^^. T 111 ci11 <11111 wuiuitn ana cnua tnat
is on the Labrador.
(irenfell has made the Labrador known to the
world and the investment that he is making for that
coast has proven a most practical interpretation of the
Gospel. If any reader of this article is desirous of
making a gift to the Grenfell mission, as Secretary of
the Grenfell Association of Washington, 1). C., I shall
be pleased to receive and forward the same.
Washington, D. C.
THE RUGGED WAY.
I am bringing my child to the heavenly land;
I am leading her day by day,
And am asking her now, whilst I hold her hand.
To come home by a rugged way.
By a way that she never herself would choose,
For its beauties she doth not see;
And she knows not yet what her soul would lose
If she trod not the path with me.
Sweet bondage of love! I am willingly led
By the hand of the Master divine.
I fear not the dangers that round me are spread;
I heed not the gathering clouds overhead,
For his love and protection are mine.
?Selected.
THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF THE SABBATH
QUESTION.
By Rev. W. H. M'Master, Ph.D.
The present decline from the proper observance of
the Sabbath is due in part to wrong views of the Sabbath
as an institution. Perverted views of the Sab
bath day have led to a perverted practice. The masses
are losing sight of it as a holy day to be sanctified to the
glory of God. The one element of rest is only a part
and the least part of the obligation. To accept the
Sabbath and observe it only for rest may be doing no
more than is moral?than the animal does when it rests
from activity. Rest is a necessity to our frail bodies,
and even a moral necessity; but with a view to higher
moral obligations. There are two sides to the Sabbath
question: One adapted to man's physical need, the
other to his spiritual and higher being.
The first thought in the analysis of this question
is that the Sabbath was founded in infinite wisdom
and for the glory of God. This is just as true of any
other institution God has founded T-Tic own arloiw ic
? t,?J ?
the primary object in all the divine appointments. The
same is true of his work of creation and in his work
of Providence. God acts in any event first for his own
glory, but He glorifies Himself in doing good, in making
divine appointments and enacting laws most conducive
to good ends. One of these laws is that of the
Christian Sabbath. This institution is founded in
moral considerations which promote the greatest possible
good of man. This ultimate end, or object, can
not be attained in any other way except the. Divinely
lN OF THE SOUTH. October 27, 1909.
appointed way.. No substitute has ever been found for
the sanctified Sabbath day nor is likely to be found.
Man can not supercede God's appointments. Nothing
better can be invented or discovered. God always
gives His best of anything. His gifts are never of
an inferior order.
T1k? inctUi.tmn C.LI..1L I r .1 '
..uuiuuun *ji mt ihjij' oauuaiii is oi inc mgncst
order, founded in infinite wisdom, goodness, for the
good of man and the glory of God. The glory of
God is the highest motive to action. This is the chief
and highest end of human and of spiritual existence.
It is to be deplored that the glory of God is not the controlling
motive with the masses today. Considerations
of interest that center in self, such as pleasure, gain
and profit; are supreme with many. Perverted views
and perverse motives lead to perverse lives. God is
left out of account, the holy Sabbath is desecrated and
to many life is wasted and the end is certain ruin.
A sanctified Sabbath is most promotive of man's
spiritual well-being, and this is the greatest possible
good for man. God is glorified by promoting the greatest
good of man. All his appointments are adapted to
the best interests of men. Man sins against God and
against himself when he perverts the divine appointment
by desecrating the Christian Sabbath. It is a
day to be sanctified, not desecrated. It is sanctified
by its own proper observance. The end of its appointment
must be kept in view that we may have sanctified
motives in its observance. Our highest spiritual wellbeing
is most promotive of the glory of God. "This is
the will of God, even your sanctification." Our growth
in grace is a positive command, a personal obligation.
If we are to reach higher attainments in holiness, jve
must accept and observe the appointed means of grace
most promotive of spirituality. A consistent observance
of the Sabbath is an efficient appointed means of
grace. It may be said to be central among God's appointments
and include all other appointments; because,
the observance of many other appointed means
of grace will depend upon the proper observance of
the Christian Sabbath. This will apply to the regular
uniform worship of God and to the observance of the
sacraments of his house. If the Sabbath day be desecrated
the worship of God will be neglected, the gospel
will not be heard, and in place of spiritual growth
and gain will be apostacy and spiritual decline. As the
conscientious observance of the Christian Sabbath is
a sure test, a safe criterion of Christian character ; so
on the other hand the desecration of this holy day is
depraving and debases man's whole being, even depriving
him of physical rest. The Sabbath dissipator has
nothing left but penalty, weariness and woe
As to the manner of keeping the Sabbath, the best
way to rest is not by inaction, indolence, or by sleeping
the day away. What is needed is change of conditions.
Just such stimulating, refreshing influences as are afforded
in the house of God upon mind and soul are
most promotive of physical rest. The'Sunday excur
sion has just the opposite effect. Dr. Josiah Strong
writes, "Among the lower class of operatives in France,
Germany and even in England, the effects of Sabbath
dissipation very commonly make Monday an idle day.
European manufacturers say that American workmen
? y