Editorial August 29, 1908 Issue

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

Annie M. Knott

The first sentence of the Fourth Commandment—"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy"—is a metaphysical statement of the true manner of observing the Sabbath. There are few, if any, among civilized peoples, who deny the need of the Sabbath, but there are wide differences of opinion as to the best way of observing it. The great Teacher said that "the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath," and he on several occasions did that which was contrary to the accepted sense of Sabbath observance, but always at the call of "necessity" or "mercy." Mrs. Eddy says, "He [Jesus] knew that men can be baptized, partake of the Eucharist, support the clergy, observe the Sabbath, make long prayers, and yet be sensual and sinful" (Science and Health, p. 20). These, however, did not "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy," or they could not at the same time "be sensual and sinful." Christ Jesus made every day holy by doing constantly the will of the Father, in healing the sick and the sinful, and we do not learn that any of his time was devoted to the service of mammon.

It is of great importance to Christian Scientists to remember that although a merely ritualistic observance of the Sabbath can never help us to work out our salvation, a right sense of its purpose is of inestimable value. In Christian Science we learn that the one necessity of our existence is to gain spirituality—to know God and understand and obey His laws, all of which give freedom from the enslaving influence of materiality. Material belief demands all of our time, thought, and energy, and gives in return nothing that satisfies. This cruel taskmaster would not give mortals even a moment in which to partake of the "bread of life" by which alone they truly live, but here comes the merciful statute which says that one day shall be set apart to enable men to know God and themselves, and the provisions of this law extend to all creation. In Leviticus we read, "The land also shall enjoy her sabbaths" (reflect the eternal harmony) when the rebellious nation which disregarded God's law had gone into captivity.

To Christian Scientists has come the holy task of fulfilling God's laws with a wider comprehension of their infinite meaning than the world has ever known. They are making history, and if they would learn from history, past and present, they will see the steady deterioration of all the peoples who have been "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God," to quote Paul's words to Timothy. While Isaiah actually satirizes the formalities which were put in the place of a true observance of the Sabbath, yet he does say that God's "holy day" should not be spent in "doing thine own ways," nor in "speaking thine own words." Should not these words be deeply pondered by all Christian Scientists as well as the admonition, "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God." If we fail to show reverence for the Sabbath by worldly conversation when we go to "the house of God," are we ready to radiate the healing truth which should be felt by all who attend our services? This is not a plea for asceticism or austerity, but a reminder to keep holy the Sabbath and extend its influence into the week so that it may be said of our Church, in the poet's words,—

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