The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-03

under the Accadian form Sabbattu,' and
it is described in the inscription as a day
of rest for the heart
We cannot lower the Sabbath to the
level of Jewish ceremonial law. It's
very position in the Decalogue places it
on the high plane of the moral law 1t
is incorporated in the system of laws
which teach the whole duty of mantle
love of God and the love of our neigh
Dor. 1t is the very keystone of the arch,
and no more fatal blow could be aimed
at the worship and love of God, or the
blessed communion of man with God than
by the effort to tear it away from where
God has placed it. Where is the autho-
rity for speaking of it as ceremonial or
temporary? Is rest ceremony Is
worship ceremony? Is poor man $
day with his family, and hissoul and with
God, a ceremony" No; Our spiritual
wants cannot be met without the Sabbath
as day of rest-a day of worship and
Sohuuuiou Will UOU.
Is the taa0 binding IN our ageP There
never was an age before-an age like this
busy, pushing age-when the God given
rest of the Sabbath was so much needed
The command, Remember the Sab
bath day to keep it holy" has peculiar
significance for our age, and was never
more binding upon men than now.
There never was any reason for the OBJ
servance of Sabbath that does not exist
now in ali its original force. The demand
for this seventh-day rest arises from the
very constitution of man. 1t is in the
necessities of his nature. We can see no
no reason why the fourth commandment
should be abrogated more than why the
first, or second, or fifth, or any other
should be.
3. THEN aohy do eOe not keep the seq
emth day. aohat authority is there for the
change to the first day.? This is a per.
tinent question. but we think it has been
satisfactorily and conclusively answered
in the discussions with the Sabbatarians
or Seventh Day Baptists.
The very essence of the fourth com
mandment is to observe one day in seven.
The object is not to sanctify a specific
portion OF time, but to set apart a certain
proportion, that is, one seventh. AS a
matter of fact it would not be possible to
observe in all parts of the world the same
identical portion of time. The confgura-
ton OF the earth and the difference in
latitude and longitude would prevent
this. Sunrise in England is midday in
Palestine and midnight in Califoi MIA.
The persons in this country who would
hold their Sabbath on Saturday under
the notion of exactly conforming to the
requirements of the fourth commandment
have no assurance that they are not de-
secrating the original Sabbath; in fact
they are not keeping the same portion Of
time with those who dwell on the other
side of the globe. What is really and
truly binding on all men in all places by
the fourth commandment is to set aside
one day in seven as holy day. 1t does
not require the unalterable observance of
particular ordinal seventh day. In
substituting the first day of the week az
the Christian Sabbath instead of the sew
enth we do not discard the moral and
essential elements of the commandment
or of the original Sabbath. We follow
the example Of the apostles and of the
Christian Church since the resurrection
of our Lord. AS advocates of the Lord
day Sabbath, we do not usurp authority
to change the fourth commandment, but
we take care not to change it, or aulaaO-
fully to announce it abolished or no longer
In force. There are moral elements in
the fourth commandment pertaining to
rest, worship, spiritual culture, and holt
ness, which no thoughtful person can
deny or question, and these elements are
not affected in the least, so long as we
observe the Lords day and keep it holy.
4. What aoos the practice and teach
lrgS Of the apostles IN regwd to the
change from the seventh day to the Lords
day. 1t is nothing to the purpose to say