The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-09-06
THE SABBATH.

Ex. 20:S, "Rcmemhcr the oabhath Gay
to keep it holy
In view of the fact that the profana-
ton of the Sabbath his become common
with Christians and all alike, and with
ao;ne the fourth commandment almost
entirely ignored, it occurs to me- that
discussion of this theme, at this time and
this place, may not be amias.
+ ask vou to consider with me, there
fore. without further introductory re-
marks. I. The origin. II. The posi-
ton. III. The purpose of the Sabbath.
Nv. How violated.
|. AS to the origin. Concerning the
tjms whom the Sabbath was instituted
there have been different opinions. Some
maintain that the qualification Of the
Sabbath spoken Of in Gen.2:? is only by
way OF anticipation and that the historian
writing after it was instituted there,
gives the reason of its institution, and
that ia thought to he the case, as it is not
mentioned during the patriarchial age.
But against this opinion it might be
named; ID that it cannot be easily sup
posed that the inspired penman would
have mentioned the sanctihcatOn Of the
Sabbath among the first transactions if it
had not taken place until $500 years af-
y Eufh I
proof against it's existence because it is
not mentioned. There are a great many
things in the Bible implied and taken for
granted. (3). That the Sabbath was
mentioned rs well known solemnity be-
fore the law was published from Bit.
Sinai, ne have only to refer to Gen. 2:23,
where we arc told that after God had fin
ished His work of creation, He bless
ed the It'll day and set it apart for a
sacred use. Again in Elk. 1923, where
the children of Israel are commanded to
gather twice rs much Mamma on the 9th
dav, in order to be prepared for the Sab
bath Of rest. 1t follows, taking the nu-
thoritv Of these books for grantod, that
the Sabbath was instituted ut the begin
ming and is co-extensive with all time.
"Whcn tho morning stars sang together
and all the sons Of God shouted for joy;'
whom God said: LET there bo light and
light there was" After He had made all
things, nothing by the word of His power,
then it was that lie ceased from His la
hors and sancti6cd the 18th day, as q holy
day, to he perpetual memorial of His
finished work.
a.. Another argument for the early
institution Of the Sabbath is the very
word with which the 4ih commandment
begins "Remember,' etc, which init
mates that the Sabbath had been inst-
tuted and observed Mt the beginning but
had fallen into neglect by the Jews and it
was requisite, therefore, that they should
be reminded Of it.
Now under the Christian dispensation,
the Sabbath has becn changed from the
sevsnth to the first day Of the week. Some
dapute that such change has Leon made
and yet the arguments for such n change
are conclusive. %. 1t was on the first
day of the week that Christ made repeat
ed visits to His deciples. (2). On this
day the apostles were assembled, when the
Holy Ghost came down upon them and
qualified them for their work, (3). On
this day We find Paul preaching at Troas
(4) Called lin Rev. l:l0) "Thc Lords
Day" John says he was in the spirit on
the Lords Day, that is, the first day Of
the week. Called the Lords Day because
it was set aside from common to
sacred use. The Jewish Sabbath com.
mcmerated the work Of creation. The
Cbriatian's Sabbath commentaries the
work Of rcpcmption, or the resurrection Of
our blessed Lord. However, it is not sc
much the precise time, dating from crea-
ton, that is universally binding rs that
one day out of seven shall be observed. IT
seems absolutely sufficient that there shall
lie six DAYS Of labor and one of rest, which
there will be upon the Jewish and Chris
tan schemes alike And this leads me tt
the consideration of tho second head
namely the position Of the Sabbath. Wha
Mace does it hold in the Law or ten com
mandmcnts? In order-to determine thi:
question We must have clear understand
inc of the word claw" which has varI
ety of meanings. The principle ones are
rs. An established orderin the sequence
of events. Example. Law OF the planets
(2) Uniformly acting force which do
tcrmines the relation of events. Exam
pie. Law Of gravitation. (3). Judicla
law, or that which guides the policy OF ;
nation as under the peculiar dominion
God as supreme magistrate. (4). Cere
moni.l law, intended only for the Jew
and abrogated when Christ came. q.
Positive law, precepts not founded on an!
reason known to those to whom they ar
given. (6). Moral law, which is tn
declaration of Gods will, binding on al
men in all ages.
Now, the law of the Sabbath is botf
posjtiye and moral. Positive i'll the
sense that God did not tell us why W
should keep it, He simply said "Remcm
bar" Moral, because it is binding on al
men in all ages.
Positive and moral laws from thei
nature (they are Gods laws) have SOM
characteristics which arc not common tt