Newspaper Page Text
VOL. IV. RICHMOls
The Perpe
"The Sabbath was made for man, and not man
for the Sabbath; therefore the Son of Man is
Lord aiso of the Sabbath." Mark 2:27-28.
In presenting this subject today, I wish to
state at the very outset that I disclaim any
new revelation pertaining to it,; nor does it
seem to me that the Church of God needs any
revelation beyond that which is given in the
holy word. If, therefore, I succeed in reenforcing
and re-applying the word of God upon
this subject, so as to "stir up your pure
minds by way of remembrance," I shall not
have presented it in vain.
The crowning act of God's creation, was
man in His own image. And when He had created
man, male and female, He made the Sabhath
for man. Thus the Sabbath is as old as
creation, and comes to us from Eden. We do
not, therefore, as some would teach us, owe the
Sabbath to the legislation of Motes. It is
clearly a God-given institution for the benefit
and blessing of man. And while man continues
to exist in his present relations, the reasons
for the Sabbath shall remain; and while
the reasons for it remain, the Sabbath law shall
be binding upon man.
It is true that the Sabbath law was thundered
from Sinai, and in this it is associated with
certain Jewish regulations which have passed
away; but while thus associated with these
things it was not a part of the things which
were distinctively Mosaic; for when the heavens
and the earth were finished, God sanctified
the day of rest. The subsequent legislation
at Sinai with reference to the Sabbath, simply
points back to its original institution. It
was only a republication of the primeval law
enacted in Eden. We believe, beyond all
shadow of doubt, that "from the beginning of
the world to the resurrection of Christ, God
appointed the Seventh day of the week to be
the weekly Sabbath; and the first day of the
week, ever since to continue unto the end of
the world, which is the Christian Sabbath."
That the Sabbath was an existing and known
nstitution before the law was given from
sinai, I think is very clear, from the fact that
when Israel was in the Wilderness, and when
they had not as yet reached Sinai, they were
directed of the Lord not to gather manna on
the Seventh day; and the season given for this
Prohibition was, "Tomorrow is the rest of the
Holy Sabbath unto the Lord." These words
set forth a simple fact, and if there is any sig
iitioance in language they recognize the Sabhath
as already existing; they do not call it
into being. The legislation which they imply
had gone before, and we find the record of it
?nly at the creation. Hence, we have said
that the law of the Sabbath given on Sinai
ID. NEW ORLEANS. ATLANTA, MAY
C . 1
tuity or tr.
By Rev. J. C. Watt, D. D.
(Published by Request op Meridian Presbytery.)
was simply a republication of the law given
at the creation.
I. Consider now the Sabbath in its relation
to man. Our Lord said the Sabbath was made
for man; that is, it was instituted for the benefit
of man. The true order of creation seems to be
that man was made for God, and the Sabbath
was made for man. Man was made for the
service of God, and for His honor and glory.
And the Sabbath was made for man that he
might have every advantage and opportunity
.for the accomplishment of the object for which
he was created.
There are those who tell us that in Eden,
man did not need the Sabbath, as there was
nothing of toil and weariness connected with
the employment of Eden, and he was in the enjoyment
of more frequent seasons of communion,
walking with Him in tl\e garden in the
cool of the day. They tell us that the pristine
Sabbath was God's Sabbath, and was not
made for man?that "God blessed the Seventh
day and sanctified it, because that in it He had
rested from all his works."
But is it true that the Sabbath brought no
special blessing and help to man while he continued
in the enjoyment of His creation standing?
I accept as the truth of God the statement
made by another that "God's rest is complacency
in His works; and that the blessing
on the Seventh day which hallowed it, is the
blessing on that which the day represents?
perfect peace between Heaven and Earth?God
satisfied in His creation and inviting His intelligent
creatures to enter into His rest by
communion with Him." Hence, the Sabbath in
its original breadth, when man was in a state
of righteousness and true holiness, meant the
restful enjoyment of a pure and holy life?a
life which was not laboring after emancipation
from the cruel bondage of sin, but rejoicing
in the sun light of the favor and presence
of its Creator; God and man rejoicing in one
another?the creature reflecting the glory of
the Creator. Thus was the Sabbath made for
man, that by these Sabbatical seasons of special
communion with God, he might be so hedged
about as to enable him to stand steadfast, if
he would, in the estate of righteousness and
true holiness in which he was created, and not
fall from peace and communion with God his
creator, into sin and rebellion against God.
Then, when man sinned and lost his creation
standing and that peculiar and intimate communion
with God which he enjoyed in Eden;
and when the curse rested upon him, and the
pleasant occupations of the garden as its keep
flRIAN
westernp/rESBYTEPMM
>al Presbyter/an
rhern Presbyter/an
^ ? A - - -?' ^ "
zz, I viz. NU. 21.
ie Sabbath
er and dresser were exchanged for a state of
enmity against God, and galling labor and toil
in the procuring of the necessities of life, the
blessed Sabbath sanctified of God remained his
friend and helper, to help him back to a state
of communion and fellowship with God; and to
enable him to still accomplish the object of his
Creator?the honor and glory of God. Thus
the Sabbath is designed to help man in his fallen
state back to God?to serve him aright?to
honor and glorify God. It is designed for the
good of man, and this is his highest good, his
greatest blessing?to be restored to a state of
. communion and fellowship with God.
The two main ideas associated with the Sabbath
in its relation to man, are rest and worship.
It was given for the benefit and blessing
of man, that he might have opportunity to refresh
and renew his physical being, fatigued
and worn by six days of labor, with the restful
calm of the Seventh; and that he might
also ham; time and opportunity to apply his
mind to things which concern his everlasting
oai > ainMi?cuusiaer ana meaitate upon tne
law of God?and rouse himself by the remembrance
of the divine goodness and greatness
to true repentance, gratitude and love. Viewed
from this standpoint the Sabbath, with the
exception of the unspeakable gift of His Son,
is God's greatest favor and blessing to man.
A burden of labor rests upon mankind; and if
the necessity of rest from labor existed in that
day when sin and decay had not touched the
fair and beautiful creation of God, how much
more now since men oppress and lay heavy
burdens upon their fellowmen! The laws and
conditions of man's physical life and health
are such as to make intervals of repose absolutely
essential to the proper and continued
yviiuiuiauuc ui me lauors wiiicn most men have
to perform. And experience has taught us
that the rest which night affords is wholly insufficient.
Rest is one of nature's principal
and universal laws. It extends to all forms
of life. We are told by competent authority
that without repose neither plant life nor animal
life can ever reach the best possible forms.
Agriculturists have discovered that the very
soil must sometimes lie fallow, or its energies
and treasures will ultimately become exhausted.
Animal life cannot long survive without
rest and sleep. Men who wholly set at naught
this physiological demand only hasten on prematurely
the infirmities' and decay of old age.
Everybody recognizes this save those whose
greed for gain has become so absorbing that
they recognize or see nothing that does not
-'A Oi.A * 1 M
minmlci lu il. oiaiesmen, pnuanthropists and
all lovers of their fellowmen have always ir^
sisted on the necessity of the divine day of rest
for the highest well-being of man.