Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-04-27
For the Alexandria Gazette.
Parsonage Papers-No. 4.
BY REV. DR. KILLGoRE. Pastor of the Metho
dist Protestant Church. Alexandria, Va.

BY Rev. Dr. KILLGoRE, Pastor ofthe Nletho-
dist Protestant Church. Alexandria, va.
THE SABBATH.
The Sabbath was male TOR man.. .'-Rible
8. THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.
Under every dispenSation man has needed
the sign Of the Sabbath as God sremembrancer
to his soul-he still needs it.
The infdel has long reckoned that he has
discarded all that is vital and saving in Christi
anity With him Christian experience is en-
thusiasm Gospel institutes are costly expedl-
ents, which might be advantageou>ly suppressed
ed by enlightened education. The God of grace
is supplanted by the God of nature; while re-
Gently, the Sabbath has been secularzed by in
fidelity, purloined by avarice, and polluted by
sensuaIity: but to man Jehovah still says, "Re-
member that thou keep holy the Sab bath day.
The trumphs of redemption are the subjects
commemorated on the Christian Sabbath.
These are grand and glorious, and require
distinct day, distinct profession, even from
Judaism. Adams Sabbath was hoy-N1oses
Sabbath was holy; but Christ is more holy
it celebrates the birth day of a better creation
and of greater deliverance. The Jewish Sab
bath vas day OF great remembrance-del delver-
auce from Egypt had been superluduced upon
the original reason of :, Sabbatlc celebration.
The day already commemorated two great
events-to have added the fact Of the Savlours
resurrection would have placed the first IN ln-
portauce, the last in order. Besides the Chris
tian could not consent to have his reason Tor
keeping the Sabbath added. It was the
chief reason-it was the first in importance. TO
give it its place the day was changed. Redemp-
ton must be written on morning beams ln this
act God is better seen-his glory is better dis
played, for redemption is more glorious than
creation. Creation is but the introduction to
mghtier purpose The high heavens-the deep
seas-the strong hills yield to lottler conceptions.
Creation and providence subserve the interest
otredempton. The resurrection of Christ tells
of has victory and our hope-"We are begotten
again to lively hope by the resurrection of
Christ from the dead
Changing the day did not violate the original
law-the essence OF moral law caunot be chang
ed The form of administration may. The law
of the Sabbath could only mean one day. ln
seven or the seventh, after six day. labor. The
commandment does not say the seventh day.
of the week, but the senventh day. Days
may be reckoned from sunset to sunset, or
tural rule. Besides the difference OF latitude and
longitude makes it impossible for men in all
places to keep the same day
The Saviour gave no direct command to alter
the day-there was no need for such command
He was lord of the Sabbath-it was OF his Or
duation The sixth day Of creation told Of per
sonal deity "Let as make man. Behold the
man is become as one of u.s. "All things were
made By him, and without him was not anything
made that was made" Iu speaking to the hu-
man understanding, Jehovah has reser-
we'd to himself the utmost latitude OF
manner, nor have his creatures right
to dictate as to hoao he shall rereal his
will The conduct of Christ and the e1-
ample Of Apostles are sufficient precepts to us
here is the reflected will of God Members
of the primitive church had their disputes
about eating blood and concerning circumci mcision,
but none about the change of the Sabbath
Had the Saviour legally abrogated the Jewish
Sabbath and enjoinede! the Christian Sabbath, ,
his right to such political interference might
have been questioned. His example was
enough He rose on the first day of the week.
He appeared to his disciples on the first day Of
the week He sent down the Holy Spirit on
the first day of the week. The disciples met
the brethren and preached to them on the first
day Of the week. The collection for the saints
was laid up in store on the first day Of the
week We think all this care to tell US that it
was the first day Of the week arose more from
the sacredness of the day than from its mum.
Der. II was in the Spirit on the Lords day."
This is the day which the Lord hath made,
we will rejoice and be glad 10 it" The Apostle
writing to the Hebrews appears to refer to the
New Testament Sabbath for the New Testa1
ment Israel There remaineth, therefore, a
rest, Ga Sabbatism, or the keeping OF a Sab
bath, for the people of God; for he that is en-
tered into his rest, he also hath ceased from
his own works as God did from his That
is God ceased from his work Of creation, and
his resting was hallowed as a Sabbatism; so,
when Jesus flushed his work-the work OF re-
demption rested from it, that day was
Sabbatical rest-so the Apostle would be un-
derstood to say, Though much of Judaism is
gone, there remaineth Sabbath to the people
Of God"
"We bless the day that God hath blest,
The type of heavens eternal rest
The Sabbath declares the resurrection of
ChriSt-the creation of the world, and the call,
lug of the Hebrew nation. Had 1t been an
abolished Jewish institution, it would have
passed away with the rest of such institutions,
but it was perpetuated The Apostle Paul y
statement, Col. II, 1911, cannot be made to
apply to the Christian Sabbath. Let no man,
therefore, Judge you 10 meat, or ln drink, oran
respect of an holy day; or of the new moon; or
OF. the Sabbath days, which are b shadow OF OF
things to come; but the body is of Christ
These Sabbath days were the ceremonial Sab;
baths, which you read of in the twenty-tbT1d
chapter of Lavticus. They were fixed tor the
first tenth and fifteenth days of the month !; and
could not consequently be the seventh day oaD-
baths, but were mere Jewish festivals.
The greediness of mouied and business cor,
pora1lons-the example of many OF the rlch'a
the laxity Of parental authority, 20 tar to account
lor the decline Of the sanctity OF the Saboatn 10
tins country. AS a nation weighed IN the DIVINE
ba'auces We are found wanting-the cry OF our
aOomiuatioDs is heard in heaven-juStlce would
reply, but Sabbath prayers conduct of the merry
]udsment. The Sabt ath is the great hlterer
OF the world muddy waters-it is our weekly
fedemption--we are vile; but so long as the
Sabbath IS retained, We remain within the
Teach of hope and heaven.