The Portland daily press., 1878-07-17

MIR. EDITOR, Please allow mo space for a
small contribution to your discussion of the
Sabbath question:; first, from a Christian, and
and second from scientific standpoint. A
Christian teacher ought to know that an irrec'
oncilable antagonism exists and has existed
from the first, between Christianity and Juda.
ism. And he should never attempt to mix the
two. Christianity, pure and simple, knows
nothing of holy times, holy places, or holy or
dinances.
Let Christians turn to the third chapter of
Second Corinthians, and read the last six
verses-and they will learn that "the minstra-
ton of death, written and engraven upon
stones"-"was to be done away,"-11th verse
"was done away''-13th verse-"is abolished
The language is plain enough.
What was "the ministration of death, writ
ten and engraven upon stones?' The ten com
mandments; and nothing else. And these were
abolished" "doue away in Christi He in
troduced "a new and better covenant. ga new
testament" or "will." Now two wills" the
one conflicting with the other, cannot be in
force at the same time. And the old will
OF testament, the ten commandments included,
ished,'' and ''done away" by the new "will,"
or testament of Christ. Having, as Paul tells
the Ephssians, abolished ia his flesh the en-
nifty. even the law of commandments. Aud
further to the Colossiens-"Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us,
that was contrary to u.s. and took it away nail
ing it to bis cross -
"Let no man therefore Judge YOU in meat or
in drink, or in respect of holy day, or of the
new mooU, or of the Sabbath (which are a
shadow OF things to come; but the body is of
Christ
Again he says to the Galatians -"Stand fast
in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made
you free; and ba not entangled again in the
yoke of bondage" "For say unto you if We
be circumcised' ye observe Sabbaths- cere-
monies-ordinances-" shall profit you
nothing"
Christian Sabbatarians claim that Christ, or
his apostles-or somebody else, changed the
Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of
the week. If this was done at all, it was not
done either Christ or his apostles, but by some
body else; and to this day mob ody knows who.
or by what authority, if any, il was done. No
where 10 the Now Testament is there d ord
of condemnation for Sabbath breaking, nor of
commendation for Sabbath keeping from Christ
or his apostles, while on the contrary, the OBJ
servance of the Sabbath as holy time is re-
buked aud condemned by both. While the
Jews insisted upon its observance for the ga me
reason that the clergy of to-day would enforce
it-as main prop and support of general
scheme for the maintainance of their domini-
ton over the minds of other paople-through
the mnistration of their temple or church ser
vices.
Second, the scisutiGc standpoint: 1t will be
seen from the above citation and further ex-
animation of the New Testaman that Chris
tianity affords no ground whatever for an argu-
ment for a Sabbath day, aud it seems altcgeth-
er too late to resort to the Mosaic or Jewish
mt n far
The Jewish cosmogony was borrowed from
the Egyptian which was co .npound Of the
Chaldian, Phencian and others. Those ancient
peoples strained after solution Of the mystery
OF creation, and the Jews were moro explicit
than any others in their account But every in-
tellIgent mind must regard their story as
fable. They represent God as working,
steadily and laoboriusly during six days
four of which were in utter darkness,
having neither sun, NOM or stars TO
light him-and being wearie1, like a tired noe
chanic, he rested oa the seventh day and was
refreshed. Wherefore God blessed the seventh
day and halowed it." And here. back upon
this fabulous account of creation-with the SUI
and stars dancing attendance upon this little
earth, which they thought was fat plain,-
and which regards the universe as less than six
Thousand years old-are the advocates of God
ordained and holy Sabbath, driven for an argu
ment in support of their old and outworn
dogma. Will the enlightened advocates of
Sabbath divinity sincerely and earnestly under
take to stand upon that ground? If SO, let US
have their argument.
"The Sabbath was made for man"-and
every other day as well. "Let no man judge
you" as to how you shall uss it, whether it be
in the church, the field, on the sea or any.
where.
The first great evolutionary movement for
the emancipation of the human mind from
bondage to external authority began with Bud
dhism more than six hundred years before
Christ, and resulted in delivering untold mill
lions from bondage to Bramnism Its infu.
ence, however, has been limited so far almost
wholly to e EASTERN Asia. The second began
with Christianity; aud although it's progress
has at times been Tetrograde, it promises to be
world wide in its influences. But it being
religious can never accomplish mans full and
complete dellverance. That deliverance. the
third great step, is reserved to science-de-
monstratve knowledge. The priesthood may
settle itself in the breeching and hold back,
but come it must, nevertheless. And all true
souls unite in saying let it come.
TORING MOODy