It is tragic that in the village of Ullapool, where so many of the Lord’s people were in times past and where many eminent servants of the Lord faithfully preached the Gospel and warned sinners of the wrath to come, a majority of the people voted in favour of the Sabbath opening of the new leisure centre. The result of that poll will be a grief to the God-fearing who are still left in the village. The desecration of God’s holy day has spread through the land like a cancer removing from the hearts of men any fear of the Most High. Men, encouraged in many cases, though not in this instance, by godless ministers regard the day as one for secular recreation, instead of the day which God has given to men for His worship and service. In our day men are bold in sinning but God will yet bring down the high looks of transgressors. As certainly as God punished Israel and Judah for their desecration of His Sabbaths so will the Lord in His own time punish the inhabitants of Sabbath breaking Ullapool and other Sabbath breaking cities and towns and villages for their iniquities. “God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” So it is also with communities and towns that rebel against the Lord.
Licensing Proposals and the Sabbath
Proposed Government legislation aims to extend licensing hours and to allow off-sale premises to open on the Sabbath. It is sad to think that the Government should have any hand in breaking down the Sabbath which is one of the bulwarks of the nation. It is good to know that in this particular matter the Church of Scotland has expressed itself strongly opposing such extension of Sabbath drinking and trading. One of their spokesmen said: “The proposed legislation is unnecessary, unwanted and will harm our society.” With this we agree. Apart from the claims of the divine law, which is ever the paramount matter, yet the well being of society would be advanced by severe restrictions on the drink trade on weekdays, as well as a total ban on Sabbath drinking. What a support such legislation would be to the Police Force when so many crimes and road tragedies are drink related. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”