Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
THE sabbath DAY.
The Views of n Dissentcr from the
First-Dny Idea.

| hlOtlslOND, VA, O~hOS~h 49, $500
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
AS an advocate OF the seventh-day SAD
bath. and consequently dissenter from
the frst-day idea, I beg leave to inter-
| pose few propositions on your argu-
| ments In a recent issue OF Sundays DIS
patch.
The first argument you present Is. that
| though the seventh day was a memorial
OF Gods rest from the work or creation
the first day Is a memorial OF redemp-
| tion and that since redemption Is greater
than creation. the first day of the week
takes the precedence over the seventh.
| In the first place, who can tell. as re-
| CARDS creation and redemption, which OF
the two Is the greater? They are botn
works requiring infinite power to accom-
| pllsh. Can finite mind determine the
| relative greatness Of two INFINITE thiheS
| and say which Is the greater? Where Is
| the short-sghted human being that VIII
| dare say he can do 1t? Can the mite
comprehend and measure intnity! me
| proof OF the very first proposition Is
wanting.
Again: Granting this TO be so. we are
nowhere told In the Bible to observe a
day In honor OF redemption. And even
II we were, that would not set aside the
Day already enjoined and observed, unless
II were specifically stated In It's institu-
ton that Ii was to supplant ana take
the place OF the original day; 1t wouid
simply be adding an additional holy day
to the one already in existence. II Is
well-defined and understood principle that
when a law has been enacted II remains
In full force and effect until repealed;
and the repe aling act must be as speciic
as the enacting act. 1t will not be de-
nj hot ha Iay ~ iOipiDU ODSprX-
ance OF the seventh day was plainly en-
acted by God anclently. You say In your
article: ut cannot be questioned that the
seventh day Of the week was the Sabbath
under the old dlspensation." Where was
this law ever repealed? 1t cannot be
pointed out. The seventh day Is, there
fore, still the Sabbath.
But further: We have institutions COM
memorative of the death. burial, and
resurrection OF Christ. Look at the beau
tlflIi ordinances OF the Lords SuphSr, bap-
tism, etc, which most appropriately co
this, as expressly stated by Gods Word.
(See Matthew. XVI, 800; First Corn-
thians. H., 23-27; Romans, vi, 49, Colos-
slams, H., 10. Why, then. talk about
the observance of a day for this pur-
pose? Who ever heard of two institu-
tons being observed to commemorate
the same event? But II day Is TO be
observed at all in honor Of redemption,
then certainly Sunday Is not the day.
St. Paul says. I'VE have redemption
through His blood" (Colosslans. t., 49,
why not, then, observe the day on which
His blood was shed--Friday?
The statements about Christ and His
disciples observing and putting honor
upon the first day of the week re-
specially challenge. You further say
that "He put honor upon II Sunday by
appearing to His disciples on the very
day of His resurrection, and then on the
first day Of the following week. and then
again on the first day Of the week succeed
ing" Now. there are numbers OF people
who really believe this, because they have
been so repeatedly told 1t. both from the
pulpit and by the press. But l am pre-
pared to say, and to prove that such Is
not the case. Also, concerning the fur
Their statement about the Lords appear
ing to John on the Lord's-day. It can
easily be shown that this was the Sab
bath, and the seventh day, and not the
first at all.
You tactly admit the insufficiency of
evidence and authority for the change
of the Sabbath from the seventh TO the
first day Of the week, when you some
what apologetically say: mo expllcf
command to change the day was given,
because none was needed" Indeed! That
is the very thing, II would be thought,
that would be needed. For the perpetua-
| ton Of an institution already in existence.
! no command is needed; but the institu-
| ting of new one to take the place or
| the old would certainly require COM
mand It cannot be conceived how 1t
could be done without IL. And the COM
mand for the new must be as explicit
as was the one for the old. Talk or
aha IN, NJ
portant a matter as this. and bringing In
a new. unheard-of day as the Sabbath,
and yet no hint OF a command or injunc-
ton to that effect? What would be
thought OF this mode OF procedure in
the changing of our State laws by the
| General Assembly? The absence or
| command for the change which Is ac-
knowledged Is the strongest Kind OF PROOF
that no such change was ever made or
intended.
But this difficulty is sought TO be
Dridged over, as follows: "The example OF
Christ to all who recognize Hin as the
head Of the Church Is as binding as any
precept could be- That example, uni
| formIy followed by the inspired apostles
in observing the first day Of the week
as the Sabbath, Is equivalent TO the most
pronounced command"
weight II the example of Christ ana the
disciples were in favor OF the first day
OF the week. Rather, on the other hand.
their example was uniformly" for the
seventh day, right along after christ 5
resurrection. the same as before it. Should
any first-day advocate desire 10
compare Bible instances or their prac-
tice with reference to the two days
with me, 1 shall take pleasure In do
ing so in any future paper. l do not
|
this time.
And, at last, the seventh-part-of-time
theory is reached In your argument.
II is contended that all that Is required
is one day in seven, and no day In par
ticular. and that on account or the ro-
tundity of the earth the same day can
not be kept all over the world. IL is
astonishing, after such labored enort
to establish the claims of the first day
that you would give your whole case
away like thisi II the seventh day can
not be kept the world over. how in the
world can the first be kept? And. does
not every one know that II the first can
be kept, the seventh can, also? Your
exact language on this point is: I'm each
part OF the world the worshipper must
observe that portion Of the week In the
latitude or longitude where his lot Is
cast" And yet, in the first part or your
article. when arguing for the universaii
~ OF flrst-day observance. you say
And so We discovered that wherever
Christianity is found. In Japan, In China
In the far-off isles of the Pacific, alonl
all the parallels OF latitude and longitude
all are one In regarding the firs'
day Of the week as the proper time fol
rendering religious homage to their com
mon Lord" Was ever a more complete
contradiction In argument seen? Some
how. II seems that the frst-day people