Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-24

bring II back? This keeping OF the sew
enth day is nowhere commanded either
by Jesus or the apostles. Did the Holy
Spirit fail to properly instruct them In
this matter? That would prove too
much.
Let me ask the seventh day people
few questions:
1. Do they really keep the seventh
day Sabbath in fact? Answer. yes or
Do they rest on the seventh day?
Do they not work hard on that day.
promulSating their doctrines? Do they
not eat food which was cooked with
lire that was kindled on that day, con-
trary to the plain law?
Do they offer the burn Offering COM
nanded by the law? If not, why not?
Keeping the day contrary to the law is
no, keeping it at all.
q Let us study the cumulative evil
dence supporting the truth of this
change from the seventh to the first
day Sabbath.
There are two lines of this evidence:
l. AS set forth in the New Testament
=. AS set forth in the writings of the
leaders OF the church in the first and
second centuries.
l. In acts 20:7 it Is said: And upon
the first day of the week. when the dis
ciplc; came together to break bread.
Paul preached unto them. The disciples
also made their offerings on the first
day of the week. Cor, l6:l, . See
also John 2o:1o26. This day is also ex-
rressly called the Lords Day in Rev.
LILO.
. 1gnatius. who was disciple of
John. about the year 100 4. D.. wrote
Those who were concerned with old
things have come to the newness Of
confidence, no longer keeping Sabbaths.
but living according to he Lords Day.
on which our life. as risen again
through him. depends"
Earnabas, in Il letter that dates back
almost to Apostolic times. says: I'VE
keep the eighth day with Joy, on which
day Jesus also rose from the dead. and
having appeared. He assembled to
Heaven"
"On the day called Sunday there Is n
gathering in one place of all. who reside
either in the cities or country places.
and the memoirs of the apostles and
the writings of the prophets read. We
all assemble in common because 1t is
day Jesus Christ our Saviour arose
from the dead. We are circumsised
from sin and error through our Lord
Jesus Christ. who rose from the dead on
the first day of the week. Therefore, it
remains the chief of all days"
Clement of Alexandria, a. D. 1914.
wrote:
The old seventh day has become
nothing more than working day"
Tertullian of Carthage. a. D. 200,
wrote:
Sundays we give to joy. We observe
the day of the Lords resurrection, free
from every hindrance of anxiety and
duty. laying aside our worldly business.
lest we give place to the devil"
The usages of the Apostolic Church.
as set forth in the New Testament. and
the testimony of the carly writer's OF
the church. backed by the scrptural
authority of Matt ISL, as shown in the
Greek. the annulment OF the law by di-
vine authority, and the disregard of
Jesus Himself for the observance of the
seventh day as u Sabbath, all tend to
establish beyond doubt the transfer OF
the Sabbath from the seventh to the
first day Of the week. This is further
confirmed by the fact that the seventh
day Sabbath people make no attempt
to keep the old law specifically. save on
this one point, showing clearly that
they contradict their own arguments
by their own conduct.
1t Is claimed that our Sunday is the
invention of the Roman Catholic
Church. That is a mistake. 1t has di-
vine authority in the word of God.
The observance of the seventh day
for the Sabbath and the rejection of the
first day of the week as the Lord 3
Day Is dshonoring to the Holy Spirit
and while the advocates of this custom
may be honest and sincere. they dwarf
their own spiritual life. spend their
strength in n mere side issue, making
their work largely the winning of pros
elytes from other communions, rather
than preaching the gospel to n dying
world that they may win men to Christ
in salvation. Let us love them, pray
for them. and yet let us be true to the
truth of Gods word before all men.
Amen.