Morning Star

HOW DO YOU SPEND THE LORD'S DAY.

Now don't be angry, nor call me a busy-body, a meddler in other people's affairs, merely because I ask you the question, How do you spend the Lord's day? To me it can matter but little how you spend it; if you go to a place of worship three times in the day, read your Bible the remaining part of it, and are as happy as the hope of heaven can make you, I shall not know it, therefore it will do me no good; and if you rake about from morning to night, idling, drinking, and Sabbath-breaking, till you are as miserable as sin itself, I shall not know it, therefore it can do me no harm. It is not for my own sake, but for yours, that I ask the question, How do you spend the Lord's day?

If you have been in the habit of keeping the Sabbath day holy, and value it as one of the greatest blessings which has ever been given to man, I need not take the trouble to point out its advantages; but if, through want of education, thoughtlessness, habit, loose principles, and bad example, you have paid but little attention to the Lord's day, why you are just the kind of person I want to talk to, not in a snappish, fault-finding, proud spirit, but in a good humoured, kind-hearted, friendly and serious manner. I don't want to quarrel with you, nor to injure you, but rather to prove myself a friend, and to do you good. I hope you give me credit for what I say, and that without offence I can put the question, How do you spend the Lord's day?

You must have noticed a great difference between those who reverence the Lord's day and those who do not. You must have observed that the first are neatly and cleanly clad, their spirits peaceful, their hearts cheerful, and that their homes have a comfortable appearance: but this is not the case with the latter; their dress is careless and dirty, their hearts and spirits clouded, and their habitations altogether comfortless. You know this to be the case, and I ask you if there be any reason on earth why you should not have as clean a suit of clothes, as peaceful a spirit, as happy a heart, and as comfortable a home as another man?

How do you spend the Lord's day? because the way in which you spend this one day, affects all the days of the week. A wretched Sabbath unfits a man alike for labor or enjoyment; whereas a well-spent Sabbath gives strength both to the body and to the soul. Why should not your soul and body be strengthened, as well as the souls and bodies of your neighbors?

How do you spend the Lord's day? because those who do not keep it holy, not only deprive themselves of much good, but also bring on themselves much evil by breaking God's commandments. God can punish, does punish, and will punish, those who despise his commands. Why should you bring on yourself the judgments of the Almighty?

How do you spend the Lord's day? because we are all liable to losses and crosses, to accidents, poverty, and pain, to affliction, sickness, and death; and if we do not praise God in health and prosperity, we cannot expect that he will enable us to bear the trials of life, and still less that he will be our support in death. Why should you deprive yourself of God's assistance in a season of extremity? Why should you die without the consolation of his presence?

How do you spend the Lord's day? because after death will come the judgment; and those who have not fled for refuge to the cross of Christ, those who have not the Saviour as their hope and trust, will find no other refuge, but must depart for ever from the presence of the Lord. Why should you prepare for yourself so fearful, so overwhelming a calamity?

For the last time, then, let me ask you, How do you spend the Lord's day? You cannot spend it well without doing yourself good; you cannot spend it ill without doing yourself an injury. Not only yourself, but all belonging to you, are interested in the question. It is not the affair of an hour, a day, a week, a month, or a year. It is not a question that affects your life only, but your everlasting welfare; as such give it a little consideration, and seek that you may be led into the ways of salvation. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name.