, 1866-02-17
LETTER FROM REV. ARTHUR SWAZEY.

E0Hosb IMcdR0 1lt1bune+ !
The undersigned has no desire to enter Int
q newspaper controversy, least of all witt
cditors. Hc has no purpose OF meddlinr will
questions between You and any of the Chi
cago Doctors Of Divinity, but only 10 uttey
the cry Of ''fair play. in the use Of autbod
Ties with which the common people arc no1
familiar. /;
Our simple purpose in this writing, Is Il
ASK OF you fair and candid statement of tIa
teachings OF Calvin on the question at Issue,
You have quoted his Language, but you hsyt
mis1cpresented the position of the ereat
theolog1an' In yonr first quotation you make
very important omission without
any Indication whatever. Between the two
sentences, "Christians ought, therefore, 10
depart from all superstiHors observance Of
days., and thong gh the Sabbath Is abro-
gated" etc, you should have Inserted The
following very important declaration; Gas
the two latter causes, however, ought not 10
be remembered among the ancient shadows.
put are equally suitable TO all ages" etc, ia
order TO allow, your readers to understand
That these statements referred back TO
something Of Importance, in order to proper
understanding Of the subject. Those air two
causes which ought not to be remembered
among the ancient shadows, but are suitable
to all ag8." are causes, Ia Caivin's view. for
the original Institution of the Jewish Sab.
bath. What are they? They are stated Al
follows: his design vas, secondly, thst
there should be stated day On which they
might assemble together to hear the law aud
perform the ceremonies. or At least which
they might especially devote to medltatioua
on his works that By this recollection they
might be led to the exercises of pfetT.
Thirdly, he thought 1t right that servants,
and persons living under the jurisdiction OF
othsrs, should be INDUCED With day ofsest.
that they might enjoy some remission from
their labors." Therefore he goes on 10 say,
where you Conveniently insert an "etc.,h
That IN commanding the Sabbath the Lord
had reEart TO both these things cannot be
doubtedii" and after confirming this bv sew.
etsa e. auo,is.iGns sis TO add That which you had
"Who can deny that boi, these thtngs 1.-The two
cautet aoose} as proper for u ~ Tor tie Jewai
As.emoes Of the church are gn}o4ned In Tho divine
known esen nom the experience Of 1iie. Gnjes.
,hsy = heai According . the di@leesn @ ao ot sss IN
in oruef' aneDg Us. Bat 70 fsr II II from being
possible 70 EeseEe order Ind aeco,m Without thla
regulation, that 1T 1t were abolished, The church
vul.ion md sutn But II We fce1 the same necsssii
~. 10 rcltere which The Lord eujoned The Sabbath
uPn the de1l lei no one plead that 1t docs not be-
Falher has been at 1ese attention to pTuYide or
our neccs sitter than for that Of tho Jese.t'
In place Of all this, you underscore the
word customary rs though Calvin t4ucht
that the observance Of the Lords day wcre
mere custom, without divine authority.
Your next important omission Is tndfcato1y.
suppose; for the stars, suggesting gap, you
had told your readers what WAS in the gap.
Calvin goes On to discriminate between sieLt
and wrong use Of the day, the right and
wrong Idea of the Christian Sabbath or the
Lords day.. He then adds: "This prepost-
erous distinction OF days (which Jadaizing,
Christian men are 50 fond o. making the'
legitimate difference which promotes the
peace of the Ch1istian Church. For In the
churches which he founded the Sabbath was
retained for this purpose He prescribed the
same day to the Corinthians for making col
lections for The relief Of the brethren at Je-
rusalcm. II superstition bc an object Of fear,
there was more danger IN the holy day Of the
jews than In the Lords day, now observed
BY Christians. Now, whenever II was expo
dlent for the destruction Of superstition, the g;
day which the Jews kept holy Wns abolished;
and 1t being necessary for the preservation Of
dccorum, order and peace In the Christian /
church. another day was appointed for The
:. Appointed" by whom9 By him who
t abolished" !" the old day. "fhe Sabbath
was retained" By "the ApostleU for main
tanning "1hat legitimate difference which pro-
notes tha peace Of the Christian church,
Calyin'a position was: First, {although he
does not state this clearly TIL near the close
uent:y that the Christian Sabbath Is not es- |
tablished by the authority Of the Decalogue.
Second. that 1t Is established BY our Lord and
Lhe Apostles {sce above,) to take the place OF
.he Jewish Sabbath, 60 far as the Jewish Sab
oath WIS designed as a day for religious wor:
hip and Muscular medItations; The reason
being the. imperative need Of such :
:ha1ch. "Fer II II were abolished, the lmme-
late couvnlslon and ruin ~ Of the church
would follow. Thirdly, that the Lords day
5 to be observed In spirit a. different from
hat in which the Jewish Sabbath was OBJ
eryed MS Christianity Is different from
Judaism.
eaehing that apostolic Christianity wiped out
Ill idea or Sabbath los we'll as abolishipe the
1e1eish 6abbsth}, and that the observance Of
he Lords day Is a good custom, which has
sprung up among Christians, resting for lis
upon humsn understanding Of ex.
8itaout breach OF Gods requirement
I would review your quotation from jeremy
Taylor, Il my communication we're not long
enough already.
1t may DO no harm TO add, that while you
may find differences among thcoloeians, and
indeed, anopg the Christian pastors of this
city, touching the historical point from which
The authority is derived, you win And no llf.
ference touching the nam thing, viz. the d.
.fne authority ifse!f Of the Christian sabbath.
You will also find that, while some attach
great importance to Jewish rest,--nna
others iyour humble servant ioins with them)
divorce the day altogether from Jewish ideas,
A1f kNII $hakf ffH4 -
Lhe prrpo1co Of breaking up al secular Occupations
and for strictly religious erereises, Calvin and
Jeremy Taylor among the rest.
Very respectfully.