Sunday.

Manawatu Herald, 5 December 1896, Page 3

Sunday.

m At Si. Anne's, Soho, London, in September, the Rev. H. B. Freeman preached a germon that would be well for all to take to heart, on the subject "Remember the Sabbath Pay." It is a difficult commandment to preach upon, he says, because the Bible gives us so few *t directions about it. The first point on which to lay stress is the distinction between the Jewish Sabbath and the Christian Snnday ; the Scotch habit of confusing them and ■peaking of the Sabbath is deplorable. They are as different as they oan possibly be in origin, meaning and purpose. The Sabbath was the last day in the week, ordained for th« rebellious people uf Iwftel, and marked Jjy item and apprejsive rales. $80 penalty lor merely ♦ gathering iticka waa immediate death by stoning. Sunday is the first day in the week, instituted by our Lord s rising from the tomb, and therefore eiientially an occasion of joy and thanksgiving. By resting in the grave on Saturday He fulfilled the law; thenceforth the Sabbath was done way and replaced by Sunday — » ~ irday of privileges and opportunities rather than one of strict ordinances ; but " it is at our peril if we trample in the dust God's bright and happy gift of Sunday." We have four directions about it in the New Testament. First, it is a day of joy ;

secondly, one of worship. The J earliest Christians always met together on Sunday to " break bread " - that is, to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. But when people cay that they have worked hard all the week and need to lie in bed on Sunday morning, and still more when the women say they cannot get away from the cooking and the children, it i 3 difficult to answer them. Yet wa should all at leaet try to give a little more thought to God on Sunday than on other days. Thirdly, it ia a day of almsgiving— that is, of kindness, and particularly kindness to children. Do not make it oppressive to them ; let them play if they have been good. By letting them learn to love Sunday parents may give their children the greatest of blessings. Lastly, it is a day of rest — not a day to racket about and come home " exhausted, bad tempered, and not always quite sober." In all these respects— joy, worship, kindness, and rest — Sunday is the prototype of the Hereafter.