The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-12-08
To the Editor Of the Pacific Commercial Adu.rtis'

To the Editor of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser:
R:-The communication signed ~ CosmOpoli-
tan " in your last issue is "a g~entlemanly produc-
ton, and as such is worthy Of correction. The
writer doubtless states his views candidly, but the
tenor of his article shows himself TO be one who
after all would not like to see a nation without y
Sabbath. His reasoning throughout is not se-
cepted generally even by the most liberal scholars
1t will be sufficient to point out a specimen or two
OF his wrong conclusions.
The writer confuses two things, the moral and
civil Sabbath law. The former was given TO the
race, along with marriage in the beginning, and
as put in the tables Of stone along with other
universally binding moral requirements. The lat
ter was the civil statute. according it is true, with
the moral law, but with specific enactments and
penalties attached. The fret chapters Of Genesis are
doubtless the oldest inspired traditions of the race
and were as familiar to Noah and Abraham as they
were to Moses, and there is where we find the in
auguration of the moral Sabbath. The Hebrew
also shows (Gen. 4:3) that it was regarded in the
sacrifices Of Cain and Abel. AT the end OF days"
tue only division of time then recorded, " they
brought their sacrifices" 1t is supposed also that
the various mentions Of seven days in the account
Of Noah has IA Sabbatical reference. Traces of n
seven days division Of time are found among other
ancient peoples. The children OF Israel kept the
Sabbath before they reached Sinai. And the men
ton OF it is in such "A way az TO imply that il al
ready existed and was not newly instituted. All
the other ten commandments are moral and are
made yet more binding in Christs sermon on the
mount. Why should not the fourth be moral also :
Cosmopolitan refers TO the nth commandment ~
showing that the ten commandments were not
binding on others than Jews. but Paul in writing
to the Ephesian Christians quotes this very com
mand as binding on them, who were Gentiles'
Eph. 6:2-3.
The writer says lhat the Jewish sabbath WAS
.s not enjoiued as a day of religions devotion at
ALL" Just the contrary is true. Both the morn
ing and evening sacrifces were doubled on that
day. And by law the sheW bread was freshly
baked and put in place Of the old on that day.
Double and more Of the religious Gres glowed on
that day. And individual offerings were sane
toned on that day. The Savior himself in his
time approved them. Jesus himself also was ac-
custOmed regularly TO go into the synagogues on
the Sabbath day and teach. He aud the apostles
were observers Of the Sabbath. II Christ modified
any technical manner of observing it, he did 1t on
the ground that he vas Lord Of the Sabbath.
And this. with his resurrection and pentecOst which
WIS on Sunday. and the immediate practice OF all
the disciples of making The first day Of the week a
Sabbath. and the SANCTION thal Cbilht gave II Dy
bis appearings are the principle and all sufficient
sanctions for the transfer Of sanciity TO the FIRST
day Of the week. 1t was the Lords day. reli
giously observed in all the early church.
In view OF the position Of Cosmopolitan on this
question, it is surprising that he fails to catch the
spirit of the New Testament 10 such a degree. az to
ask " why did not Christ or Paul give directions
for such a day - Christ laid down principles
and corrected spiritual abuses. but did not enact
specific s directions" He said :" the Sabbath was
made for man" for mankind, not for the Jew.
and not for the bondage but for the good Of man.
1t is hardly necessary TO say that Cosmopolitan
quite fails to apprehend the gist Of Paul's reason
ing. The question Of the weekly sabbath or
Lords day was not involved. 1t was not a sub
ject Of doubt or controversy. lie was referring to
special observanees practiced as grounds Of sal
~vation.f
Let me add that statistical science afirms that