Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-06
'-rRUTH'sv GREAT SUNDAY ERROR

-
Truth" on Sunday last undertook to re.
ply to that portion of our article upon the
Memphis Sunday 'orders" that character
lied them as prosecuting. We instanced
their injustice toward Jews, Seventh day
Baptists and those whose understanding of
the Sunday question differs from that of the
issuers Of the 'orders, yet Truth" in his
remarks has not word to say as to their
bearing upon Jews, Seventh-day Baptists or
others. 1t is as impossible to show that their
aspect toward them is not prosecuting, as to
show that the law was not prosecuting when
1t forbid persons in England to read an Eng
lish bible. He therefore evades the impos-
slble, leaving our argument untouched, be-
cause unassailed. He branches off into gem
eralitles about the duties OF the state, mar
rage and public education, matters about
which our article said nothing, and there
fore we have nothing to say to this airing of
Truths" opinions on those subjects. The
outcome Of those opinions and speculations
ssL-that, on what we have shown to
be the new testament teaching, "the
practical result will be that tins christian
government will be the prosecutor of its own
christian citizens" If Truth had not
fallen into 50 many errors this assertion would
appear alarming, but In fact it is only one
error the more. The new testament does
not "relegate the whole matter to the prefer
ence of " individuals. It holds before us the
example Of the christians meeting for wor-
ship and the communion on the Lords day,
and it directly eDjoius, mot forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as the man
uer of some is''-Hebrews X, 25-althouRh It
never commands the day to be kept as
Sabbath. With this authority and example
before him, the christian is not dependent
upon the law to define or protect the ordi-
nance, or to force by fine or imprisonment
any particular person to observe it outwardly.
socially, or spiritually That absence of the
laws aid is unaceompanied 10y any such re-
suit as a christian governments prosecuting
christians, is evident by the absence of such aid
TO fourth commandment Sabbethism IN Ger
many, France, Italy, and other countries clear
of the STAN of puritan Judaizing. 1t is folly
to say that without Sabbath laws there toiH
be persecution, when during the nineteen
centuries of christian history Truth" |
has no instance to show of such a |
result IN the past history of the church. |
That we may meet fairly and directly the |
three charges made by ''Truth"-that we are
opposed to the christian Sabbath, to Sabbath
laws, and to the Memphia Sunday Orders
we say: We are not opposed to the christian
Sabbath, as there is not, nor ever was such a
hing in existence, and Truth" has brought
no command, no intimation from the new
testament to support the theological fiction
Than he could bring in support of mt
ing candles on the communion table. We
nave quoted chapter and verse that directly
warn GENTLE christians not to observe snv
Sabbath. There being no Sabhath-except
hat rest into which the unknown author of
he epIstle to the Hebrews exhorts the chris
ian to labor to enter-of course we are on
'osed to laws in support of what does NOT
visit, although in favor of laws to preserve
be right OF public worship, and guard the d
iercise of that right by a special preserva
ion of order and respectful decency DURING, a
be hours OF worship, such as have been
,und sufficient in all christian ages and f
ountries. Of course we oppose the Mem. 4
his ''orders, as being impossible 10 enforce 8
nd persecuting in their nature. if thew couId Il
e. In this controversy Truth" lost his canse
ast at the point We knew would fail him =,
nd that is, new testament evidence. The
PREAL has shown scriptural authority that -,
verturns the sabbatle fiction and will nro. II
sed 10 show more decisive proof still With r.
ut new testament evidence, Truths" es- II
'rtiOns, differences, sylOgisms, speculatiops in
nd Illustrations fade into nothineness. like ],
lii,s painted on the sunset clouds, and which ID