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THE KING ’S BUSINESS
The late George W. Childs was a strong temperance man, and was especially op posed to moderate drinking. On this sub ject he is reported to have said: “I- cannot lay too great a stress on the matter of strict temperance. Drinking beer, wine or spirits is a useless and dangerous habit. It does ho good, and if the habit is continued it is almost sure to lead to destruction and death. Taste not. Touch not. Handle not. You should have cour age to say, No, if you are asked to drink. In looking back over my life I can recall many of the best and most promising of my companions who were ruined by the habit of drinking, not one of whom ever imagined that he would be wrecked in mind and body, and eventually fill a drunkard’s grave. There is no safety in moderate drinking; every one who touches it at all is in danger.” See, also, HINTS AND HELPS. LESSON XI.—March 15.—T he ; L awful U se of the S abbath .-SLuke 13:10-17; 14:1-6. G olden T ext : The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. — Mark
I. T he G olden T ext . 1. The Sabbath. It was made (appoint ed) not for Hebrews (“Jews”) but man. Ghrist refers to Genesis 2 :3. It seems to have been observed by the patriarchs (Gen. 7:4; 8:10, 12; 29:27, 27). Archeological records show (e. g. Babylonian tablets) that it was known to the ancients. But never to Gentiles has it been commanded at any time, nor to Hebrews until Exodus 16:23; 20 : 8 - 11 . 2. The Legal Sabbath. It belonged to the Jewish economy* was a sign of the covenant (Exod. 31:13) ; and typical of the Messianic (kingdom) rest (sabbatism— Heb. 4:9). Believers are not “under law” (Rom. 6:14) ; are specifically warned not to be brought under it (Col. 2:16; Rom. 14: 4-6; Gal. 4:9-11). But they are “under grace,” and no blessing “made for man” is to be “refused” (1 Tim. 4:4). Believers from the first have availed themselves of the spiritual privilege of keeping a "sabbat ism; ” a weekly rest, and have chosen thé day commemorating the new creation. If any man “judge you” (Col. 2:16) let this settle it—(1) You “are not under law” (Rom. 6:14); but that “under grace” per mitted a day of rest, you choose a day of rest, the Lord’s own day, the f ir s t , and you will keep your day of rest in works of grace. “ This is the day the Lord hath made (for man) ; and wé will rejoice and be glad in it.”
II. How S hall W e S pend I t ?— 13:10-17. The. Answer of Our Text. "H e was teaching in one of the syna gogues on the Sabbath” —It is Christlike to attend public worship and to teach on the Sabbath. “ Behold, (see her creeping in staff in hand, “a daughter of Abraham ) . . . a wo man which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in nowise lift up herself" —Let Satan’s vic tim seek God’s house. His bonds could not hold this poor soul back. If she could not walk she would crawl. There are worse spirits of infirmity: the -spirit of laziness; of get-up-too-late; of the Sunday paper;, the Sunday excursion; the Saturday night revel; of do-business-on-Sunday; of no Easter-hat, etc., etc. A h! souls that can in nowise “lift up yourselves.” "When Jesus saw her . . . Woman thou art loosed." This is Sabbath rest—to give rest; to break Satanic bands. Those who serve God in spite of infirmities shall be rid of infirmity. “ She was made straight, and glorified God” —The word of Jesus makes straight, upright, and straightway to walk straight and glorify God. It is lawful on the Sab bath to glorify God. “The ruler of the synagogue was indignant because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day”—As if God had made the Sabbath to block the flow of mercy! As if God imposes law that op-
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