, 1876-03-05
SATURDAY VS.. SUNDAY,

70 tkt Editor Ct The Citindgo ITstu5k:

70 tht Editor Ct The Cnt1ago Tribune:
| CHICAGO, March 2.-The eefmon Ly the Rev
DR.. Failows OF last Sunday evening appears like
very candid treatment OF topic about which
there is much dispute Is 8 portion OF it WAS in
reply to certain criticisms which offered in
recent issue Of THE TRIBUNE, teg leare to say
that I ara rot entirely satisfied yet with the
Doctors showing of the case In all kindness I
protest against waginE warfare with evil by
using arguments and appeals based on falao
promises. The Christian, Of all Others has the
right to sure foundation. But if he bo content
to stand on como palpalie error, while urging
o,he:a to reform, ha need not be surprised it his
arguments turn against himself. ,gt1lie the evil
at which hc aims Will escape his missiles. Dr..
F. brings forward several Witnesses who testify,
according to their best knowledge and belief,
that there is no Scriptural authority for the OBJ
eerv8nce OF the first day OF the ueak as q Sab
bath. ~~--
Theee witnesses, as qnoted, are tho Augsburg
Confession, Crapmez, TyuIa1l, CairiE, Bishop
l!orsely. zxingle, Beza, and Dueer. So the list
might be increased by many other names who
admit tho authority Of the Church only as con-
oerned in the change. Yet many insist upon
making the Apostles responsible for thu observ-
ance Of Sunday IS tho Sabbath. The early
fathers are quoted, aud various expressions
either genuine or spurious, arc wrung out Of
was regarded by the carly Christians AZ
sacred day to the exclusion OF the Bible
Sabbath DR.. Adam Clark protests against
depending upon the fathers for our
doctrines in the following language:
fathers in proof Of the doctrines Of the Gospel;
because he who knows them best knows that on
many Of those subjects they blow hot and cold"
Agatn he says: '.Ia point OF doctrine, their
authority is, with me, nothing. The word Of
God alone contains my creed
But the q1estiou is often asked how and when |
the Sunday came to be observed. Neander, in |
his History OF the Christian Church and Reli- |
glcn during the f1st three centuries page 1876.
festivals, was always only . human ordinance, |
aud it WIS far from the Intentions OF the Apostles
to establish divine command in this respect |
far from them and from the early Apostolic |
Church TO transfer tho LAWS OF the Sabbath to |
Sunday" Sir William DornviiIe, in his E1aui- |
n=tion Of the Six Texts, volume l., page 29I, says:
Centuries OF the Christian era passed away oe- |
fore the Sunday was observed by the Christian |
Church as Sabbath History does NOT furnish |
Us with single proof or indication that it was |
At ans time 50 observed previous to the Sabbat-
icat edict Of Constantine in 321, 4 o."
Thus wa have entered upon tho fourth cen
turT before We find any Sabbath except that !
pointed out in the fourth commandment. Sun /
"
not as Sabbath, until Constantine changed it'd
character. But who Was Constantine Had he |
any authority over Gods word He is often
quoted By protestants Us though le we're man
Of eminent piety, II not equal oven to tile I
Apostles. whereas it is q matter Of gzaro sus-
picion whether he we're ever 3 Christian at all |
Indeed, the evidences arc very strong in proof |
that he Wa6 not.
Dr. Philip schar, in his Church History"
vol. 2, P. 13, says: "Constantine first adopted |
a and hY-f
side OF his heathen superstition, till, finally, in
his conviction the Christian Sanquiahed the Pc
gan, though without itself developing into
pure and enlightened faith. At first, Constan-
tine, like his father, in the spirit Of the Neo-
Platonic syncre.ism Of dying heathendom rev
erenced all the gods as mysterious powers
especially Apollo, tho god Of the sun. to whom
in tho year 909 ne presented munifcant gifts-
Nay. go late as 321 he enioined regular con-
suttations OF the soothsayers. in public misfor-
even later, ho placed his new residence, Byzan-
tiun, under the protection Of the god Of ns1-
tyrs aud the heathen goddess OF fortune; and
ooWn TO the end OF his life he retained the ritie
az ha 81 high
al regret, be conceded that his pEogresa in the
knowledge Of Christianity was not g progress in
the practice OF Its virtues. His 1oye OF Display
ana nis prod:sal1ty, his ausplciousness aud his
despotlSn, increased with his power"
and got such only WAS the authority for the
first edict on record for the general obseryancn
Of Sunday. But evcn that famous ed;ct did mt
proclaim it as the Sabbath, nor plant its anthori-
sued March 7, 32l, reads as follows: Let n]l
Judges. and al city people, and all tradesmeu.
rest upon the venerable day Of tho suu.
But let those dwelling in the country,
freely and with full liberty, attend to the cult
that no oshe1 day is &C TT for the Sowing Of