Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-08
THE SUNDAY Law"
Another Discourse by Rev. B. K. WO-
mack, Delivered on Sunday Last at
the First Baptist Uhurch-The
Jewish Sabbath is r OF Bind
ing Oh Christian
People.
The New Testament Silent Concerning
an Observance of the Seventh or
the First Days of the Week
Sunday Not in Existence
Until Three Hundred
Years After
Christ.

Last Sunday, at the First Baptist church
! Rev. DR.. B. r. Womack, pastor OF the
church, delivered the following discourse on
| the subject of Sunday AQain--A Few Ad-
ditional and Explanatory Remarks" This
| is the third Ct the series of interesting ser
mons preached by DR.. Womack on the gen
| eral subject OF Sunday laws and the observ-
| ance of that day. We publish the discourse
entire, it furnishing food tor thought and
| clearing away many erroneous ideas hat had
| found lodgment IN many minds:
IF any man shall add unto these things God
| this book.-Rev xxi, Is.
A fear that some Of my friends have not
clearly understood my true position in regard
to Sunday laws prompts me to offer few
additional and explanatory remarks on that
question. That profound Difference l have
toward my brethren makes me feel that some
explanatory words are necessary. | would
not wound the christian feelings of any living
man. Certainly not. Much rather have my
own hurt. l do not only respect their feel
lngs, but their judgment as we'll. This,
think, no one who has been associated init
mately with me since | have been here, viii
for moment doubt. And certainly | do not
wish to pander to lawlessness and Irreligion.
No one can charge me with that.
The remarks | offer this morning will not
be in any close connection, but such as-I feel
are due to you and to myself. FIRST:
l. What did intend? What | intended
at the outset was to throw on the general sub
Iect of the Sabbath of the bible and the Sun
day of christian history the light of revela-
t!on and history. That, nothing more. That,
| think, IN some measure | have done | did
it IL the simple interest OF truth and Any
people at large. l will serve them in any
capacity l can; but that capacity winch Is
both the highest and most delightful is to
explain to them religious truth. Second:
2. In saying what | have touching the
Sabbath of the bible and the Sunday OF
christian history, | have not advanced
an idea that is not perfectly familiar TO
all scholars in theological literature and
christian history. | confess | may have
said some things that we're not familiar
to some Of my hearers, some things, may
hap, they did not know, bat l did 1t IN thu
interest of truth. We want truth. Ii Is the
truth that makes Us free. All competent di-
vines know the Jewish Sabbath IS not bind
ing on christians, and they know, too, there
is not one word IN the new testament com
mandIng an observance of the seventh day
nor the first day Of the week. We cannot
have it otherwise. Men, great and good,
who have done more for christianity and the
world than any of Us, or all OF US combined,
can hope to do, knew these things and talked
about them, and did not feel in the least dis
about the matter. They felt that
neither christianity nor the world had lost
anything necessary to the progress of the
one or the salvation OF the other on account
of the Importance of one day, whether sup
posed or real. Christian scholars know the
notes In the new testament IN regard to the
first day OF the week are few and Of doubtful
character; yet we find unmIstakabie evidence
Of it In the writings OF the early fathers,
reaching back almost to the time of the
apostles. But all these are mere traces, and !
there IS not an authoritative utteraEce IN re- .
gard to the observance Of Sunday on this |
earth, IN sacred writings, nor in christian his
-ory, until Constantine assembled the throne |
n A. D., 3l2. He did utter some authorIta-
i've word on that subject. But up to that |
lime the christians worshiped at night, or be- !
ore day, at any place or time when they |
Gould escape the vigilance Of their perse-
tutors. So the truth IS, there was no Sun
lay IN name or In idea, as we have it now,
al after Constantine. That is the simple
ruth. Oar idea and name Of the first day OF
he week came from a Roman emperor, who
ived and reigned just three hundred years
Ifter the death Of Jesus Christ.
3. What, then, Is Sunday to US? 1t is a
'ery great blessing to the whole people, If
hey would use it, and most important and
delightful privilege to christians. Ii is nc
blessing to men who make no Use Of it. But
is great privilege to christians, whatever
ther persons may think or do. 1t IS expedi-
emit that christians meet together often and
egulariy, if they Can, to cultivate piety and
eceive instruction. This is a means Of grace
md that we can make use OF this means OF
race as we choose and when we choose,
nth none to modest US or make US afraid, is
imply aud purely privilege granted Us by
ne laws of the land. II Is that-nothing
lore. We ought to be thankful for this:
lanktui that we were born in a land aud in |
n age in which we have the full privilege 10
orshIp God according to the dictates OF our
wn conscience, at any time or place. | be-
eve we are thankful. That is what we mean
hen in prayer, as Is often the case, we thank
cd for the Sabbath. We thank Inn for the
roVdence that has cast our lot Ill such Il o
pred land. I
4. When | make these statements | am t
OF warriDg against religion, nor leaguing |
18th lrreiiglon. | do nothing more than !
ate truth, which | thought would be well l
me, and contribute to the pleasure and /
ell-bning OF my brethren, simply because It I
truth. Christians are not afraid Of truth; |
ever were; cannot afford to be. We coz Z
IS with shame that the history of so-called l
of the bloody past is full of pious n
auds. But | will tell you, my friends, "
aud Is fraud, though it is pious. c
D. Perhaps 1t is unfortunate that these re-
arBs be made Just at this time, when cur o
rolc authorities are sustaining a hard 5
ught battle IN the effort to enforce law in n
nded to regulate conduct on Sunday | feel J
e force OF that thought as senslby as any b
an. Surely [ would not intentionally put 2
e single obstacle in their way. Let not Ct
ch be. For | have reason to believe that CT
city IN the Union has committed its gov
1ment into the hands Of more conscientious,
tier, and IN every way safer men than II
empbis has done. But truth is not un- al
lcome to these men, and cannot be made
believe that Il y friends and the people Of A
emphis will be disPleased at a SIMPLE, II
endly declaration of truth of so general a | p
ture as this Whatever it will influence A
N to do, we ought to be willing to see HI
ne. However, it may be true, that these n
erances were quite out Of place just at n,
S time, if utterances of pure truth are ever NJ
Of place. =
). What possible design, then, did | have =
making them? l answer that question o
,e more. did it for two reasons: d
~ To elaborate and illustrate truth of a a
gIous kind Is the chief object OF the chris 4,
4 ministry. God intended his truth to be 50
ached, and l think he intended it should
rIfy Him and benefit man. For that rea- 50
| thought to say something on the gem mi
subject Of the Sabbath, and it would
IN, rightfully, too, for there is scarcely
thing connected with the christian sys- w
/ that is less understood. But +"
|
tied to the state was involved. | did not No
assert, but only expresseda fear, with rea- ~ ~
s for it, hoping thereby to administer !"
olesome and timely warning to my fellow -
stians. We do not want to repeat the ""
DRY of fourteen hundred years ago that SSPp
nched Europe In blood and whemed a Vt
! in the darkness of night. That terrible
OF darkness and woe commenced with the wa
essIon OF Constantine, and, | believe, the Vo
religious enactment he made was in RET 80
ice to Sunday. | intended a warning; zee
ling more. | hoped christians would ex- ue'
ne and learn the facts. G I
A rest period may be regarded sani- iiI
measure. Ii so, 1T is proper to enact 80,
on that subject. There Is much in favor s't51
his view. John Richard Fare, NJ. D., ~
Ible and experienced physician Of London,
the use OF the Sabbath, medically speak =
is that OF a day OF rest. He regards it tba
natural duty. At regular meeting Of &c,
New Haven medical association, com Tn
ID OF twenty-five physicians celebrated In fer,
r profession, 1t was unanimously decided suc
lelr opinion that the laborer can do more nil
better work and will live longer, If al PIT
ID to rest one day in seven. If these YEA
be OF sufficient importance to demand a are
regulating labor and appointing one
nth OF time to rest, by all means let Ja'
law become statute. But let it be [
erstood what it is for; that it Is not in the his