Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-02-15

and devotion. This Wo Iorub ueS
can mean no other day than that on
which tho revelation was given. And
that was on the first day Of the week.
Alleged private revelations TO the con-
trary may be rejected as spurious. II
at any time the Lord should deem II
good to reveal anything further on the
question, lie would do 80 through the
legitimate channels, and not through
private Interpretation But until
that occurs. the revelations already
given on the subject contain the word
Of the Lord to the Saints and the con-
troversy is thereby ended,
II we look to the New Testament for
light on the Sabbath question, we find
that tho resurrection Of our Lord took
place on the first day OF the week, as
did also that Pentecostal outpouring OF
tho Holy Spirit From these facts the
conclusion Is inevitable that the first
followers Of the Nazarene should look
upon that day with special reverence,
and observe II with appropriate de-
votlonal exercises. II is certain that
very early, the Christians held regular
meetings on that day. acts 70; u
Cor l6: 81 It Is also certain that the
day was called "the Lords day. (ReY
/. t0)
what particular teachings were given
by the Apostles at that time on the
Sabbath question, Is not on record, but
II would be inconsistent to assume that
the Christians gathered for special edl-
ncatlon and the partaklng Of the sacra-
mental emblems on that day, without
the sanction OF their diyinely Inspired
teachers. In fact, q new day for such
exercises was absolutely needed. the
old Sabbath observanoes had no bear
ing on the new, Christian life. The es-
sentlals Of Christian day OF rest had
no room IN the Hebrew Sabbath OBJ
servanoes. Both could be kept, but not
on the same day, Their Significance
was 10 different, one being the sign OF
a covenant betweenGod and one nation
the other being commemoratlon OF
that victory by which salvation was
made possible to all nations, to the
living and to the dead,
This seems to have been fully real
lzed In the frst Christian churches
For wherever Hebrew influence
was paramount, both the Sabbath ana
the Lords day were kept holy, But
this could, for obvpus reasons not be
permanent. And when II was deemed
necessary to choose between the two,
the Lords day was given the prefer
ence, Emperor Constantine endeaVored
by legal euactments to make that day
day OF rest. Unnecessary labor was
prohibited, as were also public per-
formances In the theaters There could
be no stronger proof Of the popular
ity the Christian Sabbath had attained
TO- at that time,
Concerning the ancient Hebrew Sab
bath much has to be learned yet, be-
fore the institution is clearly under
stood. II was different from the Egyp-
tlan day OF rest, which seems to have
occurred every tenth day, instead OF
every seventh. TO do any unnecessary
labor on that day was q capital Of
Tense. Whether II occurred on every
seventh day OF the week Is an open
question. The theory has been advanced
in later years, that It was movable
holiday which fell IN rotation on every
day Of the week, like our movable
holidays, and much can be said In favor
OF this view According to Leviticus
%, the fifteenth day Of the first month
OF the year was always sabbath
The entire week commencing on that
day was n Sabbath week, with special
conversations on the first day and the
seventh. Then instructions were given
10 count seven complete Sabbaths from
the nrst day after the Sabbath week,
and to celebrate the fifteenth day as
o special Sabbath, This gave the He
brews at that time OF the year two
sabboths in succession and II this is
correct the Sabbath would in seven
years fall in rotation on every day ii
the week There was similar ar
rangement IN regard to the Sabbath
year. Every seventh year was so des-
ignated But every fftieth year was
year OF jubilee, and consequently, at
that time, two sabbath years, the
49th and 5oth, came together II fur
Their investigation should prove this
theory to be correct. the contention for
Saturday as a permanent Sabbath, ac-
cordlng to Hebrew pattern, would APP
pear utterly void of sense,
But We may let that pass. II IL GER
tain that the Apostle Paul distinctly
teaches that the law relating to the
sabbaths, in the old sense Of that in
stltution is not binding on the disciples
Rom. "A; 81 christians" should accept
his teachings, even of they reject the
revelations given for the guidance OF
the people Of God In this age.
THE TWO WORLDS.