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shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the
seventh-day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.”
The Lord is no less particular now in regard to his Sabbath than
when he gave the foregoing special directions to the children of Israel.
He required them to bake that which they would bake, and seethe (that
is, boil,) that which they would seethe on the sixth day, preparatory to
the rest of the Sabbath. Those who neglect to prepare for the Sabbath
on the sixth day, and who cook food upon the Sabbath, violate the
fourth commandment, and are transgressors of God’s law. All who are
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really anxious to observe the Sabbath according to the commandment,
will not cook any food upon the Sabbath. They will, in the fear of
that God who gave his law from Sinai, deny themselves, and eat food
prepared upon the sixth day, even if it is not as palatable. God forbade
the children of Israel baking and boiling upon the Sabbath. That
prohibition should be regarded by every Sabbath-keeper, as a solemn
injunction from Jehovah to them. The Lord would guard his people
from indulging in gluttony upon the Sabbath, which he has set apart
for sacred meditation and worship.
The Sabbath of the Lord is a day of rest from labor, and the diet
upon that day should be more simple, and partaken of in less quantities,
than upon the six laboring days, because they do not have that exercise
upon the Sabbath that they have upon the other days of the week. Many
have erred in not practicing self-denial upon the Sabbath. By partaking
full meals, as on the six laboring days, their minds are beclouded.
They are stupid, and often drowsy. Some suffer with headache. Such
have no truly devotional feelings upon the Sabbath, and the blessing
resting upon the Sabbath does not prove a blessing to them. The sick
and suffering require care and attention upon the Sabbath, as well as
upon the other six days of the week. And it may be necessary for their
comfort to prepare warm food and drinks upon the Sabbath. In such
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instances, it is no violation of the fourth commandment to make them
as comfortable as possible. The great Lawgiver is a God of compassion
as well as of justice.
God manifested his great care and love for his people in sending
them bread from Heaven. “Man did eat angels’ food.” That is, food
provided for them by the angels. In the three-fold miracle of the
manna, a double quantity on the sixth day, and none upon the seventh,
and its keeping fresh through the Sabbath, while upon other days