Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-05-02
ORIGIN OF SUNDAY.
Gladstone Explains the Christian Change
OF che Sabbath.

Gladstone Explains the Christian Change
OF the Sabbath
The opinion which required a Sab
b3tarian sTicness, has in all likeli-
hood been largely consequent urOn the
Reformation, ana, without much crit
lcal Investigation of the case, has rest
ed practically upon the fourth COM
maniment Of tho ,decalogue as it
stands. 1t did not, however, arise at
once out Of the great movement. even
in Scotland, where it eventually at
tanned q pitch OF rigOr and exhibited q
tenacity of life probably greater than
in any other Christian country"
writes w. Il. Gladstone in McClure's
Magazine. II We measure things
not as they are divInely intended, nor
as they are in themselves, but as they
are Subiectly entertained, il might be
q question whether the Scottish Sab
bath was net fer POO years a greater
Christian s2CrCLeut, a lager, more
vital ana more influential tact in the
Christianity OF the country than the
annual or sometimes semiannUal cell
eorati3n Of the Lords Supper. or the
iDiatiatory rite of baptism, or both to-
ge-her L remember that when half q
century ago ships were dispatched
from Scottish ports to South Austria
liza, then in its infancy, laden with
well-Crganized companies of emf
grants, 1 read tine published account
of one them that perfect religious toll
GRAFTON was established rs the rule on
board, but that with regard TO fun
dameDtal article Of religion like the
Sabbath. everyone was, of course, re-
QuIrcd TO observe it. Many anecdotes
might be given which illustrate the
same idea-au idea open to criticism,
but one with which the Presbyterian
Church cannot well afford TO part
without some risk to the public power
and general influence Of religion.
The seventh day of the week has
been dep0sed from its title to obliga-
tory religious observance, and its pre-
rogatiye has been carried out 90 the
first. under no direct precept OF
Scripture. but vet with a biblical re-
cord of facts, all supplied by St John,
which 60 far toward showing that
among the apostles themselves, and
therefore from apostolic times, the
practice of divine worship on Lords
Day has been continuously and firmly
established The Christianity took
upon itself to alter the form of the
Jewish ordinance; but this was with
view to giving larger erect to its
spiritual purpose. The seventh day
had been ordained as the most appro-
pirate, according TO the decalOgue,
for COMMUNICATING the old creation.
The advent of our Lord introduced MS
to @ chain OF events. by which alone
the benefits Of the old creation were
secured to us, together with the Yet
higher benefits of the new. The series
of these events eliminated in the re-
SurrectiOn. With the resurrection be-
gan for the Savior Himself rest from
an that was painful in tine process of
redemption. Us on the seventh day
there had begun a rest from the con-
structive labors that had brought the
visible world into existence and ma
tUity.
The seventh day was the festival Of
the old life. accompanied with an eX-
emptiCn from its divinely appointed
burdens The first day was the festi-
val Of the new life, and was crowned
with its cCns,an5 and joyous eXer-
else. The act Of The church OF Chris
tian community i'm altering the day
was founded on this broad and solid
analogy, and was also as has been
said. warranted BY the evidence Of
apostolic pracJice-St Louis Repub-
lie.