Don’t mind a laugh, don’t mind a slight,
Dare to do right, dare to do right.”
GOD HALLOWED IT.
After God made the world and all contained therein, we read that He rested. The word “Sabbath” is the Hebrew word meaning rest. We are to remember the “Rest Day,” for God hallowed it and because of this the one-seventh of our time is to witness a suspension of buying and selling; a pause in the clatter of the workshop and the anxiety of the desk; and a serious yielding up of ourselves to devout thought and intelligent worship. This day is absolutely necessary. Natural science affirms that man and beast require a day of periodical rest. Florists say that the most prolific plants cease to produce beautiful flowers if they are not kept from flowering a part of the year. Medical men declare that keeping the Lord’s Day is of unlimited benefit, and that man cannot and should not do without it. When Lord Castlereagh broke down from overwork on three hundred and sixty-five days per year, and through insanity took his own life, Wilberforce exclaimed: “Poor Castlereagh, this is the result of the non-observance of the Sabbath.”
When John Quincy Adams was Minister to the Court of Holland, he joined a society of learned men, who met once a week for mutual improvement. Mr. Adams, though one of the youngest members, soon became a great favorite. On one occasion the meeting was adjourned to Sunday evening. Mr. Adams was not there. His fellow-members noticed and regretted his absence. On the third Sunday evening it met, Mr. Adams’ chair was still vacant. Many were surprised that he who formerly was so prompt and punctual should thus break off. At last the meetings were returned to a week-day evening, and lo! Mr. Adams was in his place, brilliant and delightful as ever. The members welcomed him back and expressed their sorrow that press of business or the duties of his office should so long have deprived them of his company. “It was not business,” replied he, “you met on the Lord’s day; that is a day devoted to religious uses by me, which imparts unspeakable advantages from a faithful observance of it.”
James A. Garfield, when President, showed his respect for this day by never allowing anything to interfere with his going to church. Like President Hayes he would walk in order to give his coachman rest. At the Chicago Convention at which Mr. Garfield was nominated for the Presidency, many wanted to go on with the balloting after midnight of Saturday. Judge Hoar, the chairman, was pressed to ignore the Sabbath and let the Convention proceed. He replied, “Never! This is a Sabbath-keeping nation, and I cannot preside over this Convention one minute after twelve o’clock.” On that Sabbath, Garfield attended church and heard a sermon. At dinner the conversation turned upon the suspense of the country. One spoke of the deadlock in business created by it; another of the suspense in Washington, where all were awaiting the further developments of the Convention. All said something, and when done, Garfield remarked, quietly but earnestly, to one sitting beside him: “Yes, this is a day of suspense, but it is also a day of prayer, and I have more faith in the prayers that will go up from Christian hearts to-day than I have in all the political tactics which will prevail at this Convention. This is the Lord’s Day. I have great reverence for it.”
When General Grant was in Paris, the President of the Republic, as a special token of respect, invited him to occupy a place on the grand stand to witness the great racing which occurs in that country on Sunday. It is considered a discourteous act to decline such an invitation from the head official of the Republic. Such a thing had never been heard of, but General Grant in a polite note declined the honor, and said to the French President, “It is not in accordance with the custom of my country or with the spirit of my religion to spend Sunday in that way.” And when Sabbath came that great hero found his way to the American chapel, where he was one of its quiet worshippers. If such great men believed and obeyed the command of God, should not every boy do the same?
“KEEP IT HOLY.”
My boy, keep this day which so many make a day of social festivity or pleasure holy. Do so because God asks you. Keep it holy by refraining from work or pleasure. “I thank God,” said Gladstone, “for the Sabbath with its rest for the body and soul.” Keep it holy by attending divine worship. Learn to say with David: “How amiable are Thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord.” (Psalm 84:1, 2). “I feel,” wrote Coleridge, “as if God had, by giving the Sabbath, given fifty-two springs in the year.” Keep it holy by doing good, for it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
It is said that a Spartan youth was holding the censer at a sacrifice when Alexander was offering a victim. It chanced that while he held it, a hot coal fell upon his hand. The youth flinched not, lest by any utterance or cry the company would be disturbed; “for,” said he, “I am in the presence of Alexander.” So, my boy, when tempted to neglect home meditation, the communion of saints at the church, or the sick or needy in their distress, do not do it, remembering you are in the presence of Jesus. Keep this day as a day of anticipation, looking forward to that holy and eternal Sabbath that remaineth for the people of God. Keep it, honor it, love it, for it is—