NOTES.—The Sabbath should not be a day of either ordinary labor, idleness, or amusement, but one of rest, reflection, holy joy, worship, and helpfulness. It should be the happiest, the brightest, and the best of all the week. Such it should be made for young and old. Very early the children can be taught the stories of creation and redemption, and taken out amid the handiworks of God and taught to see Him and to commune with Him through nature. Preparation for the Sabbath, therefore, is an essential to its proper observance. God’s blessing is upon the first moments of the Sabbath as well as upon the last; and, as far as possible, everything should be got in readiness so that the entire day may be devoted to God and humanity in the manner indicated. In making the Sabbath, God rested upon, blessed, and sanctified the day. Ex. 20:11. Whoever, then, keeps the Sabbath aright, may expect that there will be brought into his life God’s _rest_, _blessing_, and _sanctification_. Christ And The Sabbath [Illustration.] Healing On The Sabbath Day. "Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days." Matt. 12:12. 1. Of what did Christ say the Son of man is Lord? “The Son of man is Lord even _of the Sabbath day_.” Matt. 12:8. See also Mark 2:28. 2. Who made the Sabbath? “All things were made _by Him_ [_Christ, the Word_]; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:3. 3. Did Christ, while on earth, keep the Sabbath? “As His custom was, _He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read_.” Luke 4:16. 4. Although Lord, Maker, and an observer of the Sabbath, how was He watched and spied upon by the scribes and Pharisees on this day? “And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, _whether He would heal on the Sabbath day_; that they might find an accusation against Him.” Luke 6:7. 5. With what question did Christ meet their false ideas and reasonings regarding Sabbath-keeping? “Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; _Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?_” Verse 9. 6. How did they manifest their displeasure at His healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath? “And they were _filled with madness_; and _communed one with another what they might do to Jesus_.” Verse 11. “And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway _took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him_.” Mark 3:6.