118 



DISCUSSION ON SUNDAY OBSEEYANCE. 



instead of the day to which they had been accustomed up till 

 thru m(^iiien1 ? Very often a Christian does more work on the first 

 day of the week than on any otlier day. I agree with what has 

 been said here to-day, that change of occupation is the very 

 greatest form of recreation; and to change from our earthly and 

 mundane concerns, whatever they may be, to an occupation that 

 is spiritual — even if it is taxing and hard — is such a change that I 

 believe it revives the whole man. I would only say, in conclusion, 

 that I think it is very important for all of us who seek to commend 

 the Gospel that we believe, that we should never allow men to think 

 we are in any way contributing to the work that is done on the 

 first day of the week — that we recognise for men around us that 

 God's ordinance for Israel, while not of binding effect, yet has 

 that effect of example and experience that we do well to show 

 men that we think it should be obsers'ed by them. Therefore I 

 am thoroughly at one with all that has been said to-day as to our 

 duty, each in our measure and sphere, to see that this one day in 

 seven — not the Sabbath, but the first day of the week — is observed 

 by the whole nation, so far as we are able. 



The Chairman: With regard to what Mr. Eoberts has just said 

 about the clergy and ministers, it may not be generally known 

 that they are, the wise ones among them, not all, the most 

 scrupulous observers of one day's rest in seven; but owing to their 

 work it does not happen to be Sunday. It is another day which I 

 will not name, lest you should call upon them on that day. Those 

 that are not wise are continually in my hands. 



Dr. Withers Green : For the sake of discussion I would like 

 to say that I think the Sunday is a day for work. My view of 

 worship is that it is very hard work, much harder than an ordinary 

 day's business work. The priests of old had double work to do 

 on the Sabbath, not only to kill one lamb morning and evening, 

 but two lambs. The}' were made to do more work. I suppose the 

 worship was to be more intense, and all the worshippers in all 

 Israel were to do a thorough day's hard work in worship, in 

 harmony with those tw^o lambs. There are some kinds of work we 

 must not do on Sunday, it is quite plain, just as there are some 

 we must do. We must not do servile work. We are to do all the 

 work that is necessary for what man must eat. That includes a 

 great deal, as the ladies know. But our Lord Himself was careful 

 to work on Sunday. We have it figured plainly, the withered 

 arm and other instances point to working on Sunday. My view 

 of Sunday travelling is this; it is not to be done for selfishness or 

 material gain, but for the Lord's work. The best way to better 

 one's fellow men is to preach the Gospel to them. On those 

 grounds I ride on Sunday. When I was younger I remember 

 walking eight miles from the Citv to Wimbledon to preach the 

 Gospel in the evening. I got to Wimbledon rather fagged. The 



