The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-04-12
SUNDAY LAWS.
,. 3z.. xIeHoLks NJ. LONG

l there Is no tex, in the bible thu, by log lcal construction bears upon the sGhjcc; except. perhaps, the following "Le, no man therefore judge you in meat. or Tn drnk. 1T in respect of any holy day. or Of the new moon, or of the Sabbath '' tCol IL lb); or, perhaps, the foliowing :
 Rom. NY :. q. "0ne esteerneth one day above another. another esteemc;h every day alike. Le, every man be fully persuaded n his own mind. He that re- garie,h .ae day regarde.h + unto the Lord ne that regardeth no; the day 10 the LoFa. be doth not regard IL Taking into cons.deration the obviously intended mearlng a. ,hIs language II sounds very here;. . and pledge my word ;ha; | will no; say anything tonight more of- fensVe Q the self-constitu:cd defenders ot he sunday law than this language IS If honesty interpreted. The hrst re- uisiie 10 talking sensioly upon any subject ls for man te know what he IS talking about The question ot the nature and obligation of the Christian sunday has been enc ci grea; interes, and eonsldera- bic study to me for the past SIX or eight years. and have come 10 some Conciu- slons ma. are based upon facts and n perfect harmony with the opinions of a. mos Al scholars upon this sa6lect. There are scores of the best and most en- ligh;ened ministers in all the churches wh, believe exactly as do on this sah ject, bG; they are silent because tney gre afraid oi being pitched ou: or oFew- beaten ou, ot ;heir churches oy the9 ig- l. est young preachers .n the Pfesb, teilan church vas invited three years ago 10 lease that denomination because he ven tured to teli what he knew aooal Il. the ground ot the invitation beng not tha, hls sie~s were false or unseripiuai. bat contrary ,o the confession of fai:h and eateehisms. Another young minister oi learning and ability and a personal ;,lend ot mine barely got into Texas pfesby- tery about four months ago because he gave his views little too freely in his examination on ihls subject. Now, my policy and opinion Is ,ha, the plain truth, plainly spoken, can not do any harm though |, may stir up people some times and make them read, and bring condemnation on the man
  ion furthermore that if christianity has to be supported by falsehood and uncon- s,itu;ional legislation, the sooner |, goes the better. have abiding faith in the intrinsic merits of christianity, and wan, to see her stand alone on her n- trinsic merits. She has got to stand that way or tall. and the sooner she sloughs of all ignorant or false teaching. and ig- norant and iniquitous leglslauon. and stands alone Tn that eternal ligh, which God has pu; into her face and wreathed around her deathless brow the better for the world and then will not be afraid of all the dogs of hel! ,ha, Memphis and all he other cites Tn the world can turn .oose upon her.
 propose, therefore, in the name of truth and right. 10 consider this ques- ton O; Sunday from an historical and constitutional point Of view, Tn order to ascertain whether there Is any ground in scripture or in history for Christian Sab bath as based upon Dlvine command and whether there IS any constitutional ground 10! leglsla,ing on this subiect
 I. will say frs; 10 those who accep; the Inspiration of the scripture, there can be no oouht about the obligation of he Jews ccoo years ago 10 keep the seventh day as day of rest and worship. The command was one of he ten laws Of ,h- Decalogue I, was part of the coEs,i- tudon of the Hebrew government. !, was an essential part of their religion. IL was ID doubt beneficial regulation. IL was pFomo,ive both of health and re- ligious sentiment and character
 :. will say in the second place 'has t IS I fac, of history tha, Ii was the iul- pressioa of the esrly Christian chuf I tha. the observance of the iewish Sab bath was par, of the ceremonial la~, and passed away with the old dispensa- tion. The early Christian church did no, keep the Sabbath. Neither cid the early Christian church recogni the ob- ligaiion ;o keep any day as the Jewish Sabbath had been kep.. This IS evident from the fact.
 fa4 Ina. there is no. a word n the New Tes-ai1-n, enloining or even inil- mating as daty the keeping of the Sab bah. or the frs, day of the week. or any other day. + IS barely 10 be gathered from irriden;al passages that on the presume abolition of The Sabbath, ihe early CsFis'ians agreed 10 set apart the frs; day o, the week as fhe day mos; proper for the worship oi God. the study of ,he scriptures and ,he celebration oi the Lord , supper: II being ,h- day o1 which o1r e.viour arose from the dead i, was therefore called the Lords day ]; was kep, .e honor of his resurrection. nc; as S4b1a:h. bl; as Q day ot 1oy. suc praise. ard holy pleasure and festR4ty But there Is not even 10 be found 2 hn; tha; !. had a Saoba;ical chaF4eser o7 tha. tke keeping of i ~as obligatory Or the contrary, n .he passases a.reaas quoted mos: emphatic aliy insists Ina; !; t matter cf individual conscience :. Le, eyerv rran be persuaded by his ows. mind He that regarGeth inc day re- garde;h ,, 70 the Lord, e'-. "Le; 70 man 'sd-e you" e be .ol- iedse .n Ee- spect io rlea: or holy days or nes moons CT he Sabbath days.
 to1 h the second place T ,s evi1e- . ,ha, th- early Christians did not closer [ .he f.st 6zy ef the week zs We observe .t