Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-05-08
,,,,xC.,ssrER s.aEssYTassy


Rcv. &. s. Iincamfelter of Berryvllle.
A. close of the discourse the BODY Went
INTO session, Rev. Lingamfelter in the
hair. and elected the following officers:
Rev. Mr.. walkup, Moderator, Rev. X. IL.
fleming, Clerk, and Rev. Z. w. Hollis,
Assistant Clerk.
Morning, afternoon and night sessions
we're held on each of the days, Thursday,
FRIDAY and Saturday; the body adjourn
ING on Saturday night TO meet i'll fall ses-
lion ut keyscr, Mineral county, W. Va.
There were % ministers and % elders in
attendance and the meetings of the ses-
sion were interesting throughout. Rev.
Weisel Bcale, graduate of Union Theology
cal Seminary, Hampden Sidney, was IL
censcd to preach the Gospel, and Rev. w.
G.. Campbell OF Harper's Ferry, was or
dained an Evangelist. \ committee was
appointed which effected an oISaniZdtLon
Of the Presbyterian church ut buhNJ
Hill. In anti-bcllum times TINS cnuF. -,
had large membership, Du: stI"iiSo W
say not one Of the names Oh Us S,,,,i
members appear upon the present Vi'"''"
From a report read by the Stated Clerk,
Po,. I n Graham, we learned there
we're during the past year under the fu-
i;ngsof the Prcsbytery, n ministers, 81
cbnrches. TWO candidates for ministry
licensed. one candidate for ministry, three
ordinations and one installation, two pas
toral relations dissolved and one church
organized.
The most important subject discussed
during the session was that Of sabbath
Observance" \ committee appointed at
the previous meeting of Presbytery to
make L report on the Sabbath aS Divine
institution andman's violation fit, sub
rnitted the following paper which was ac-
cepted by the body
The Sabbath is of Divine appointment.
The record is, "God blessed the seventh
day and sanctified it, because that in 1t
He had rested from all the work which
God created and made" The seven-fold
division of time and observance OF one
dav in seven as Sabbath, dates back TO
thai appointment, as clearly appears
from the history of the Patriarchal age.
1.-the giving of the LAW on Mt. Sinai,
The command is repeated, with reason fer
the appointment OF the day and with Spe-
Cific directions Us to its observance; and
it is given, not as part of the temporary
or civil law of that peculiar people, but
us Il part Of that positive and moral law,
which is universal in its application and
also Of universal obligation; and further,
tits given there, not is a new preccpt or
requirement, bat rs the word remember
implies, ii is simply the re-cuactmcnt OF
n law and lis Incorporation into this code
shat was well known before. That this
was the law for the Jewish people amt
during the Old Testament times IS clear
beyond question.
But question is raised as to whether i:
IS binding upon Us, and now: Inc an
swer 10 The first part Of the question Is
found in the nature Of the law itself Is a
positive moral precept, and the extent Of
IL application is just ~ broad, and the
reason for its imposition just the same rs
that Of the other preccptS; Thou SHAFT
not kill" Thou shalt not steal, &c;
and there is, therefore, the same obliga-
ton to keep the Sabbath holy, that there
is 10 observe amy other Of tie ten Com
mandments.
As moral pleccpt it finds lis reason in
the universal want of mans nature, both
physical aud moral, aud it is designed to
supply that need by aflording the opportu-
nilv of rest from labor and OF moral I'M
pr0vement.
Whether the law as originally given
and as repeated in the ten Commandments
is binding now, is answered 10y saying
that the law which God appoints, can
only be repealed or its operation suspend
Cd by his authority. 1t j. of force until
Ho sets il aside, and this, in reference to
the law of the Sabbath. He has never
done. But to be released from the obli-
CATION TO keep the Sabbath, 1t must be
shown that 1t was a temporary appoint
lncnt, and so the reason for It's institution
has ceased or else, it must he shown that
God himself has repealed the law rcQuir-
ing its observance. But neither of these
can be shown for the law is not tempor-
nry in its nature as already seen and no
where is il said that the law has been re-
pcale0 or so modified "a practically 10 IN
VOlYe its abrogatiOn. Our Lord, who de-
Clarcs himself TO be- the Lord OF the Sab
bath, explains its true design and mean
ing and corrects the false interpretations
Of il made by the Pharisecs and thus con-
firms the law by his own teaching and eN-
ample. Ta comment upon ana explain Il
law iSSurcly not To abolish it. The ApoS-
Ties also, in like manner, express their
disapproval Of the suprrstitious Obser-
vance Of other days, just as they do other
acts of Twill Worship but no where do
they say one word that dctracts anything
from the obligation 10 keep the sabbath
according To the commandment. Inc
law then, is still, and everywhere In force.
But what does ii require? Obviously, that
one-seYeuth portion of the time be ODscr-
we'd Is a Sabbath. Not that everywhere
the same hours he observed, for with the
change of longitude this would De imprac-
iicable, but that one day for rest shall fol-
low six days for labor. The change of
dIv, therefore, from the seventh To the
IirSt day of the week, does not inyalldate
the law of the Sabbath, but, since that
change was made 10 commemorate the
finishing of Gods greatest Work--his
work of cmptiOn-it furnishes an adj
ditional and higher reason for it, obsCrr-
aucc. And here let it be noted that ONE
WHOLE DAY is thus set apart; and that
while God has given to us six days, the
seventh belongs wholly 10 Him and no
part of it is ours. "ltis the Sabbath of
the Lord thy Cod" "The Lords day"
If any through greed of gain or want of
will to keep the day, object that this takes
too much of the time, the answer is, this
portion of time never was ours and there
fore we may not use it as our own; and
experience proves that ii is not too much
for the purpose for which it was intended,
and further, that they, who through love
OF pleasure or desire OF gain, cncroach
upon these sacred hours are losers in the
end Taken even in this lowest sense OF
the command, there is profit III keeping
holy day.
In regard TO the observance of the Sab
bath, il must be maintained that the only
possible rule TO direct us is the revealed
" i'll of Him to whom the Sabbath belongs
and where lie has given directions it is
vain for us to interpOse, either objections
or our own opinions and preferences.
The command is Remember the Sabbath
10 keep it lIoly"-primarily in the sense
of setting it apart as not our own, but IS
belonging to God. 2nd, As thus set apart
it Is holy day as distinguished from
loliday-a day Ct sacred rest and service
davoted esDeciallv To tho nuhlic and Dri-