A Christian man was once urged by his employer to work on Sunday. “Does not your Bible say that if your ass falls into a pit on the sabbath, you may pull him out?” “Yes,” replied the other; “but if the ass had the habit of falling into the same pit every sabbath, I would either fill up the pit or sell the ass.”
Every man must settle the question as it effects unnecessary work, with his own conscience.
No man should make another work seven days in the week. One day is demanded for rest. A man who has to work the seven days has nothing to look forward to, and life becomes humdrum. Many Christians are guilty in this respect.
SABBATH TRAVELING.
Take, for instance, the question of sabbath traveling. I believe we are breaking God’s laws by using the cars on Sunday and depriving conductors and others of their sabbath. Remember the fourth commandment expressly refers to “the stranger that is within thy gates.” Doesn’t that touch sabbath travel?
But you ask, “What are we to do? How are we to get to church?”
I reply, on foot. It will be better for you. Once when I was holding meetings in London, in my ignorance I made arrangements to preach four times in different places one sabbath. After I had made the appointments I found I had to walk sixteen miles; but I walked it, and I slept that night with a clear conscience. I have made it a rule never to use the cars, and if I have a private carriage, I insist that horse and man shall rest on Monday. I want no hackman to rise up in judgment against me.
My friends, if we want to help the sabbath, let business men and Christians never patronize cars on the sabbath. I would hate to own stock in those companies, to be the means of taking the sabbath from these men, and have to answer for it at the day of judgment. Let those who are Christians at any rate endeavor to keep a conscience void of offence on this point.
SABBATH TRADING.
There are many who are inclined to use the sabbath in order to make money faster. This is no new sin. The prophet Amos hurled his invectives against oppressors who said, “When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat?”