, 1876-02-20

tono? There is really but one point OF intetes'
md Fslna in the discussion VIZ Was 6aboatt
observance enjoiued on mankind at c1ea'ion' Mf
Eai,ov asserts broadly and without ouaIneatlon
Twas. We who doubt or deny ask Mr. Is. 1o{
nroof of his assertion. He gives us TzmounR
lind of comneusatv or Interpretation Of certain
r.seares. and calls it proof. We see nothing IN
!, having even a remote likeness to proof OF his
prooosit;on. but be declares the doctrine proved,
Ard refuses or is unable to give any better evl-
dence, and still positively aflrms that tho Sab
ta.h yes given to the world at creation, and that
mankind observed it, Tnss is about the way the
matter stands 4: present.
LIE. Us begin at the beginning aud find out, il
y, can whether Mr.. ., has any substantial
ground for his assertion or not. The subject
tito seventh day and hallowod it. This
sct of GOD IL taken by the au-
yocates Of the Sabbath as sufficient ground
for the Affirmation that the sabbath WAS gwen to
nan At creation. But ask, in all sincerity. is
this good ground or any real ground at all for
conferred on the day; was it done by the
Creator in audible voice. in public, overt
nauner, so that Adam or whoever hred could
lesr and understand? Even Air. B. must an
ever lie does not know. The act Of blessing was
beEond all dispute the act Of God, and, being 60,
Tow could meu know what God did unless He
revealed it to them? Is there word, phrase,
or sentence in the record to chow that God
nade any such reyelation3 The word Sabbath
or tho phrase Sabbath observance is not used,
80 far as the record shows. for $500 years after
creation. Tho language in respect to Gods
blessing the seventh day is unquestiouably not
tha1 OF injunction, but Of plain recital Of what
God did. Man. or duty, or obligation is not
mentioned or limited at aolr There oSsx;ne T. not
or observing. It is not in AMI. sense
the language Of p1eccpt, nor it is not addressed
t. xny subject as rule of duty So Tar rs the
mere language goes, it has nothing Whatever to
do with u11u.
what tue Divine purpose was in blessing the
dav 10 not stated, mud eau only be inferred. Nr.
Bailey FAYE Adam n.s old and mature enough TO
understand What God said- In this statement
A1r. 3. e.ans On his ina agina.lou. How does he
lnow hoR old and mature Adam WAS? Was
be present at the time, acd did he Interview
Auan, and learn his age and maturity2 Whsther
be IVES or not, be asserts with ~ much freedom
IS If he WEE co:n1zant OF the whole Affair." Bat
admitting that Adam mas old and mature enough,
how does Mr, B. knom that God gave hum any
}recept at kll in respect 10 Sabbath observance
Is no: the Shole assertion bald assumpticn?
Neither lit. Hai:ey. nor ths Chusch, nor all nor
any OF lie great and learned men, can know What
God has not revealed. aad tbs silence OF the
record il the evidence that the revelation has
not been made. Bu. Mr. Bailey declates they
tad re.tal precepts, that they lived to eTsat
age. and handed these verbal pfecepts
coxr t,aditioQA'l:. That they lived to
great ase. and that they might pass
events aud transactions down traditloualy, aud
1.o douCt did 80. IS not questioned; but on what
AUTHORITY does Mr. 3. rest the atirmation that
Goa gave them verbal prcccpts Neither God
ro- man hes made any sach statement How,
rLec, did old Nr. B. get tho information to
enqble Eim to assert it 60 positively? Even if
e;iould admit thet pseeeIts were gwen, or may
Lay. teen given, while the Scriptures are silen.
ahour ,he1a. how caa any man assert Whist they
were? He may presume. conjecture. and as
tuue eterrallY, but when Imagination has swept
a' II ssela Il d r 1na IS Il al aas9 ae9 "a The The
basis Of doclr,re or argument? absolutely
vothlnr?
But Mr.. B. and his friends have
one never. falling resource, Lermeneutics.
logan Las exhausted lis stock Of direct tesri-
1pouy and finds buseIf coruered, his despier re-
sort is lermeueulic.. On ali cootsoye1ted
points Of belef or doctrine hermeneutics is not
worth the paper On which it is wr.tsen. Every
school Of theology has lis own mode of inter
n1e,at.ou. and I;olGnius sees in The cloud q !
camel, weasel or a whale, precisely IN accord |
ance 3yith his nrecnncentious and the hertneneu-
tic medium through which lo views It. Idouot
undetrate ber1neueu1ics when used within its |
prouer spbc,e, which ia simply to explain obscure
or doubtful wo,ds or Lirases in tbs text hut
never tn or;rin,tn a uTeccnt and forca Il in4n
the record. IS ,g sought to be- done in regard to
tha Sabhath. Tet ma eayin hisconncctjon THAT
HAVING assunacd the roIe Of iustrnct1nr the nuh-
lc thtouch a public neysnarer. anal ali Others
who choase haye a right to AZ Mr. r. for the III
rec. aD posit,ye proof of his assertion1 and ha
In. no rirht to eyade or eIuda s,rairhtforwa1d
anaEe,. Or to INDULGE in The AT OF ..how not to
10 It" 80 be has thus far done, have twice
proposed to giYe pp the discussion il be would
po:us to auv precepk for Sabbath observance be-
lore the time Of Moses. "Secuin has cbai- |
ieuped him for the procf ESQ. Has he c1yen il ?
{ do not saw he cannot. for tnaf would |
bo considered ,nqutice proposition. |
Eut does not everybody who reads |
kpor beyond question that L Mr. B. had the |
sroof ha wonId give it instautef. Ia does mt |
furnish it, because be hns not got it-thero goes
tauther negative. Well, regret it. hut Ton't |
AXE 1t back.
Nov. does Mr. 3. ses clearly the music aek
ua to face? trust be does, for / don't ,ysn1to !
eceat it and does he see that long. wordy criti-
asuas of mo and ..Secuin y viii not answer the |
,urpose, however adro,t they nav bo as diver |
uoas from the point at issue Wby should he |
sns;e h1s time IN crticz;np such feehle nrolnc- |
ions a. nine and ..Seruiu's"2 Why not five ]
hs direct proof at ouce and make us and Iii oh |
ec:ors ashamed Of our ,rnorance and temer;tv ? |
is friend. ndyiae Mr. Il. to cling |
Ei;f the rrasn Of death to hia ossartion
ha, this Sabbath was giyen ia man at crest;on.
lssert and reae,er. Z Mr. n. trne or false
A~.- 0.s .Ne 0- -Ae-~S /