Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-04-11
OR,Gin OF SUNDAY.

MIR. Gladstone Explains the Christian
Change of the Sabbath.
The opinion which required a great
SSabbatarian strictness has in all likeli-
hood been largely consequent upon the
reformation, and, without much critical
investigation of the case, has rested
practically upon the fourth amendment
OF the decalague as it stands. 1t did
not. however. arise at once out of the
great movement, even in Scotland,
where it eventually attended a pitch
OF r1gor and exhibited a tenacltv of
life probably greater than in any other
Christlan country. If we measure
Things not as they are di-
vinely intended, nor as thew
are in themselves, but as they
are subjectively entertained, it
might be a question whether the Scot
fish Sabbath was not for two hundred
years greater Christian sacrament. a
larger, more vital and more influential
fact in the Christianity of the country,
than the annual or sometimes semi
annual, celebration of the Lords sup
per, or the initiatory rite of baptism,
or both together. I remember that
when half a century ago ships were dis
patched from Scottish ports to south
Australia. then in its infancy, laden
with well-organized companies of emil
grants, I read in the published account
of one of them that perfect religious
liberation was established as the rule
on board, but that with regard to
fundamental article of religion like
the Sabbath, everyone was, of course,
required to observe it. Many anec-
.1Ofac mi rh no oh -,
the same idea-an idea open to criti-
scism, but one with which the Presby-
terrain church can not we'll afford to
part without some risk to the public
power and general influence of reli-
,gion.
The seventh day of the week has
been deposed from its title to obliga-
tory religious observance, and its pre-
first; under no direct precept of Scrip
ture, but yet with biblical record of
facts, all supplied by ST. John, which
go far toward showing that among the
apostles themselves, and therefore
from apostolic times, the practice of
divine worship on the Lords Day has
been continuously and firmly estab-
lished. The Christianity took upon it.
self to alter the form of the Jewish or
dinance; but this was with view to
giving larger effect to its spiritual pur
pose. The seventh day had been or
dained as the most appropriate, accord
ing to the decalogue, for commemorate
ing the old creation. The advent of
our Lord introduced us to a chain
of events, by which alone the
benefits of the old creation were
secured to us, together with the
yet higher benfits of the new. The
series of these events eliminated in the
resurrection. With the resurrection
began for the Saviour Himself a rest
from all that was painful in the proc
ess of redemption, as on the seventh
day there had begun a rest from the
constructive labors that had brought
the visible world into existence and
maturity.
The seventh day was the festival of
the old life, accompanied with an ex-
emption from its diviuely-appointed
burdens. The first day was the fes-
tival of the new life, and was crowned
with its constant and joyous exercise.
The ordinances of joint worship ex-
hibit one particular form of that exer-
else. The act of the church of Chris
tian community in altering the day
was founded on this broad and solid
analogy; and was also, as has been
said, warranted by the evidence of
apostolic practice.-McClure's Maya.
zine.