The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-03
TIE 70 URTH COMMANDMENT

Il
"Ls the laeo IN the Decalogue binding
on as IN this age2" This is the question,
with kindred ones, which correspondent,
who is a minister in another branch of
the Church, requests us to answer. His
letter, to which we refer the reader, will
be found on the first page Of this paper.
1t would be impossible to answer all the
questions, or even one of them, thorough
ly in newspaper article. Yet, as the
questions are asked in no captious spirit,
and as the cause of Sabbath observance
has suffered by the very questionings of
the abiding authority of Gods Sabbath
law, we will make a brief reply.
We do not agree with the writer in the
opinion that very few persons among
reIigionists have given the subject any
attention.
The volumes, great and small, which
have been written on the Sabbath ques-
ton would make no small library. Few
subjects have been more carefully con-
sidered. This is not on account of any
special obscurity or difficulty connected
with it. Everything connected with re-
Ggion has been the subject Of discussion
The plainest truths have given rise to
controversy. Not one of the questions of
our correspondent has been overlooked.
They have all been thoroughly examined,
and we think it is not too much to say
that. all the arguments against the Chris
tian Sabbath have been satisfactorily met
at every point.
l. There are few matters about which.
all evangelical Christians are more entire
ly agreed than that the DecalOgue in it,
entirety IS the great moral code for all
ages and for all men. The passages re-
ferred to by our correspondent
vii: l-6, Gal. iii: 1926, Heb. viii: GLIB
have no more reference certainly to the
fourth commandment than they have to
the whole Decalogue. So far as these
passages are concerned, the whole of the
ten commandments must stand or fall to-
gether. These very passages are referred
to by the Antinomians to support their
peculiar views. IF our correspondent has
any sympathy, which we do not suppose
to be the case, with these views, there
would be little or no occasion to proceed
further with any questions about the Sab
bath. If the question is about the whole
law, we simply refer to Paul's decisive
answer, "Do we then make void the law
through faith? God forbid: yea, we es-
tablish the law"
2. But has not the fourth command
@'e'at been a9rogated? Was not the Sab
bath a mere ceremonial on typical imSti-
tuition of the Jercs
We answer, the Sabbath was instituted
from the beginning. "And God blessed
the seventh day, and sanctifed it be-
cause that in it he had rested from all his
work which God created and made
Gen. II g. 1t was not an institution for
the Jews only, but for all men. "The
Sabbath was made for man"
We find references to it in patriarchal
times before Moses (Gen. vii 4, viii: 10,
10, Job ii 13), and among other ma
tons than the Jews. The division of time
into weeks Of seven days was not unknown
to the Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians,
Romans, and, perhaps to the Chinese.
Not only was the chronological division
OF the Week known to these nations, but
modern archaeology has brought out the
fact that among the races of the Euphrates
and Tigris valleys the seventh day of the
week was set apart and observed as a sa-
cred day The distinguished Assyriolo-
gist, Prof. Sayce, writing in Tie Acade-
my, says: 1t is now some time since M.
Oppert pointed out the Babylonian origin
Of the week. Seven was a sacred num-
Der among the Accadians, and their lunar
months were at an early period divided
into periods Of seven days each. -Four
years ago Mr.. George Smith drew atten-
ton to the fact that the 9TH, 18th. 21st.
and 18th days Of the month were termed
SuJuno, or rest, on which certain works
were forbidden to be done" Mr.. Bos-
cawen found the very name Sabbath