The following is the substance of a sermon preached by one of the well-known ministers of the past — the Rev Gavin Parker. He was a minister in Aberdeen. His text was: “Will a man rob God”.
Continued from last issue (Page 175)
For the same kind of disobedience the most severe calamities also befell the Israelites in subsequent ages. Their captivity in Babylon was predicted, and afterwards took place on account of profaning the Sabbath. “I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you; and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. Then shall the land enjoy her Sabbaths. They polluted my Sabbaths; then I said I would pour out my fury upon them. I lifted up my hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; because they had polluted my Sabbaths. If ye will not hearken to me to hallow the Sabbath day, then will I kindle a fire in the gates of Jerusalem, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, and it shall not be quenched.” Nehemiah contended with the nobles of Judah, after their return from Babylon, respecting the profanation of the Sabbath, saying, “Did not your fathers thus; and did not God bring all this evil upon us and upon the city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” How awfully have these predictions been accomplished! The people have been led away captive and dispersed among the heathen. They are in a state of dispersion to the present day. Jerusalem had been burned and destroyed, and ploughed like a field. Its palaces and gates and temples have been levelled to the ground, and a sorry and meagre-looking town now occupies their place. Can we produce any one instance in which robbery has been punished in a manner so terrible?
We can, therefore, have no hesitation in affirming that the pollution of the Sabbath by secular conversation, is a more aggravated sin that common robbery.
At the conclusion of the discourse it may not be improper to mention some reasons for illustrating and enforcing this doctrine.
We have reason to think there are some among us who sigh and cry for the abominations of the land. They are grieved at witnessing the disgraceful and impious profanation of the Sabbath, so prevalent in this place. They complain that the evil has greatly increased during their own time. Should not something be said and done to resist its progress? It may soon come to a crisis. Who knows but that period may speedily arrive when God will say to this overflowing deluge of profanity, “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.” O that many present may begin to think on the Sabbaths they have wasted in idleness, or profaned by unprofitable conversation! O that God would awaken them to consideration, and bless them with true repentance!
It is a scene awfully affecting, to witness so many of our brethren deliberately bringing everlasting ruin on themselves. Little do thoughtless sinners consider the worth of a soul! Seldom do they seriously anticipate what awaits them in the approaching eternity. But the people of God are affected, and weep over their perishing brethren.
It is peculiarly distressing to think of the dangers to which the young are exposed by the prevalence of Sabbath profanation. They are thus induced to think that the Bible is not true; or that many of those who profess to believe it are mere hypocrites. They are in danger of following the multitude to do evil, and of imitating the hypocrisy and profanity of those among whom they live. Although something is done for their instruction and admonition, the influence of evil example may counteract all their good resolutions, and soon efface from their minds every serious impression. None but God can preserve them from the ways of the destroyer. O that I could successfully exhort them to avoid this fascinating sin, and to flee from the wrath to come!
The sacred Scriptures hold out to us the prospect of great prosperity to the Church of God upon earth. Some preparations are carrying forward in different countries for this auspicious change. The Word of God is read with eagerness and pleasure by many thousands who never till of late enjoyed the precious gift. A general desire to possess the Bible is excited among the nations. In several heathen countries the gospel has been preached with the Holy spirit sent down from heaven, and astonishing have been the effects. “Waters are breaking out in the wilderness, and steams in the desert.” Would it not be desirable that a revival of religion should take place in our country? We have reason to think that God yet intends to favour our land, and to bless her children within her. But while Sabbath profanation so greatly abounds among us, little good can be effected even by the preaching of the gospel. If a people can attend the sanctuary of God on one part of the Sabbath, and wilfully employ another part of that day in worldly conversation, the most alarming, the most discriminating, the most animating truths of Christianity will be to them of no avail. They may come to the house of God as His people come; they may sit as His people sit; they may hear His words, but they will not do them; they are triflers in religion; they are hypocrites in Zion. The solemn ordinances of God become the means of blinding their minds and of hardening their hearts.
If God revive His work in our land, there will be among us a very great and conspicuous change in the manner of observing the Sabbath. At present, how painful it is to think of an institution so useful, so fraught with good to man, perverted to the meanest purposes! A day “made for man”, for his instruction, improvement, and comfort, wasted in idleness, or wantonly abused by dissipation and open profanity! There is a loud call for a Divine visitation. May it be in kindness, and not in wrath! Let God appear in glorious power and majesty to shake the earth, to destroy the false confidence of impenitent sinners, and to subdue a people to Himself! Then shall the Sabbath be accounted a delight, and its prescribed exercises sources of dignified pleasure. Then all its hours shall be devoted to God, and employed in His service. In place of idleness, and amusement, and festivity, and vain talking, after retiring from the sanctuary of God, there will be great searchings of heart; there will be deep convictions of sin; there will be vigorous attempts to make proficiency in the knowledge of Divine truth and in holiness; there will be zealous and persevering exertions to promote the interests of religion in families, and vicinities, and towns, and in all places of the land.
It may occur to some, that were they to refrain from worldly conversation, the Sabbath would be to them dull, and melancholy and “a weariness”. It might be so. But what would heaven be to the same persons? Surely much more cheerless. The Sabbath is a type of heaven, and a happy means of preparation for that everlasting and holy rest. If sinners or professing Christians cannot take pleasure in the exercises of religion during one day in seven, how could they endure to remain for ever before the throne of God, and to serve Him day and night in His heavenly temple? If they have no desire for communication with Him in the ordinances He has appointed upon earth, how could they relish that full and uninterrupted enjoyment of communion which constitutes the bliss of heaven? Let not men, therefore, deceive themselves with a false hope of heaven: their dislike to the spiritual and delightful exercises of the Sabbath, proves that they are totally unqualified for heaven; and that, without a change of nature, they can never be admitted into that holy place.
It is a happy circumstance for our country that the crime of robbery is held in general detestation. This useful feeling holds out the prospect of a quiet and peaceful life upon earth to the great majority of our countrymen. Long may this feeling remain in all its acuteness, and in all its strength! It ought to be cherished; it ought to be improved and extended. O that this discourse may have some influence in exciting a similar and proportional abhorrence of the crime of Sabbath profanation! Although this crime cannot disturb the order and harmony of society upon earth as much as the other, there is an eternity to come: and if the peace and happiness of eternity be prevented by Sabbath profanation, it cannot be too much abhorred. God has published a law by which the world shall be judged. He who said, “Thou shall not steal,” has with equal authority commanded, “Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.” God will render to every one according to his works. Multitudes may live in peace and honesty; they shall not be condemned for robbing man: but if they have neglected to sanctify the Sabbath, God will assuredly condemn them to endless woe, for robbing himself. The serenity and comfort that exist among the profaners of the Sabbath in this world, afford no proof at all that they shall enjoy any peace or any pleasure in the world to come.
The very appointment of the Sabbath calls upon us to admire the wisdom and goodness of God. To the sincere Christian, it is a day of holy rest from the toils and anxieties of life — a day of intercourse with God — a day of refreshing to the soul. It is the means of increasing knowledge, and faith, and holiness. Sabbaths spent with God will soften the terrors of death. They bring heaven down to earth, and introduce the saints to the exercises and pleasures of the celestial world.
Even to those who are yet in their sins, the Sabbath is a distinguished blessing. Were it not for this day, and the exercises prescribed upon it, their salvation would be very improbable. Many have been called into the grace of God by this appointed institution. Let even those who have long profaned the Sabbath by vain conversation think on their ways. Let them seek God while He is yet to be found. Let them call upon Him while He is near. Let them return from their evil ways, to fear God, and to reverence His institutions. Let them henceforth employ the precious hours of the Sabbath in attending with ardour to the things that belong to their everlasting peace. Let them read, and hear, and meditate, and apply to themselves the truths of Christianity. Let them think on the compassionate and almighty Saviour, whose finished work and resurrection the Christian Sabbath is intended to commemorate. Let them be ashamed and grieved in heart on account of their base ingratitude in so long despising His great salvation and rejecting His gracious invitations. Let them be horrified at the insults they have offered to the Son of God, in trampling His blood under their feet, as if it had been something common, or even contemptible. Let them seek grace to repent of all that they have done against God, and against the anointed Saviour. Let them humbly and patiently wait on God, and beseech Him to make them new creatures, to sanctify them wholly, and to prepare them, by His grace, for that everlasting Sabbath which remains for the people of God.
In retiring from this place of worship, it may be proper to think upon the meaning of these words of Divine inspiration, “If we sin wilfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful expection of judgment and fiery indignation.”
“I speak as unto wise men, judge, ye what I say.”