Monday Club Sermons., De Witt S. Clarke Nehemiah 13:15-22 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading donkeys; as also wine, grapes… The several points suggested by this narrative are specially suited to times like our own. I. IT REMINDS US OF THE BLINDING AND, HARDENING POWER OF WORLDLINESS. It blunts conscience, deadens spirituality, and estranges from God. II. IT REMINDS US OF THE RISKS OF ASSOCIATION WITH CARELESS AND IRRELIGIOUS NEIGHBOURS. III. IT REMINDS US OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MEN IN HIGH POSITION FOR PREVAILING EVILS. IV. IT REMINDS US THAT NEGLECT TO KEEP THE SABBATH IS AN EVIL WITH WHICH GOD CAN NEVER BE OTHERWISE THAN SORELY DISPLEASED. V. IT REMINDS US OF THE RESOLUTE FIDELITY REQUIRED TO SAVE THIS DAY FROM GENERAL PROFANATION. (Monday Club Sermons.)Keeping the Sabbath — I. Sabbath observance has to contend with the greed of men with wealth. II. Sabbath observance secures the community and nation from peril. Divine requirements have always a wise and loving purpose in them. A God-fearing nation is strong because it has learned, in its several elements, to exalt those things which have abiding power in them. Charity and integrity, reverence, purity, intelligence, and self-control are mighty forces. Against these immorality, intemperance, extortion, ignorance, surge like a desolating flood. The Sabbath is a protecting dyke raised across their path, so clear and effective that they each hate and would abolish it. A million soldiers under arms cannot defend us as sixty million citizens without other weapon than recognition of God's claims and their fellows' rights will do. The former may be defeated as Rome's numerous legions were. The latter are invincible. III. SABBATH OBSERVANCE MAY BE DECREED BY PUBLIC STATUTE AND ENFORCED BY THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE. The State may, and must maintain itself. It may, and should, forbid those practices which threaten its life. It must respect the religious nature and requirements of its citizens. Its province is, not to say how any shall observe the hours of rest, but simply to guarantee that they shall have them. (De Witt S. Clarke.) Parallel Verses KJV: In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. |
    |