The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-07

ance as a day Of rest and worship by his own
example cannot. 10 disputed We perfectly
willing to concede that there is no distinct di,
vine command 10 change the day from the
seventh TO The first But We cannot attach the
same significance to this fact our correspond
ent does
We apgrcbend that What the Creator conten.-
plated vas a day Of rest and worship Not the
sanct.fying Of any particular day, but pro
vision for an apparent need In mans nature
Of occasional respite from toll and withdrawal
from association With ana participation in
thinss purely material and temporal Real
iz,ug this physical ans spiritual necessity in
As creature, the Creator ordained day Of
rest and worship. 1t was The seventh day.
The contention Of Christians is that the day
itself ts Of little Importance but vha, the day
stands fer is Fundamental and vital 70 mans
vcllare. bo,h physical, moral and spiritual God
dfd not design to dignity or sanctfy day
but he designed TO proytde by divine law for
the good Of man His sons, not hts days. were
the objects Of the Fathers care.
Jesus came as dcltyerer from the bondage
q the laa he eInanclpated humanity from the
calling and burleusome yoke Of liberalism and
leeaIism, under which dispcusation humanity
had made but poor advance IN spiritual expert
ence and living We cannot. as We have before
suggested 60 very far into the discussion OF
Tits subject We cannot fortiTy ourselves by
argument and proof text RS we advance our
however. that 1t will not be questioned when
assert that with the coming of Christ and
the fulhlmcut Of his mission the Mosaic dis
pcnsation ended The law lad served It's pur.
pose IN educating men and preparing the way
for Christ When he came his mission was
protest against emphasizing the letter OF the
Law and ignoring its spirit His mission was
designed to teach men that they we're no longer
under the law but under grace and his Spirit
leads men unto liberty 1t is no longer a mat.
ter Of days ard seasons and ceremonies and
sacrifices Now It IS question of motives and
affections and purposes Religion is no longer
the ablect and servile bondage n law. but It
Is the glad and free worship. devotion and ser,
vice OF the heart.
When We view the change Of the day In the
light OF Gods intention in the establishment of
the Sabbath and of Chr4st's message of Chris
han liberty. can easily realize that such a
change ot day IS not significant. 1t Is that for
which the day stands and that alone II we
stin observe the spirit of the Sabbath We can
observe the first day as worthtly in the sight
OF God as We can the seventh, just as one can
worship God In ono church as well as In an
other. or in the chamber of communion al
home as well as In the crowded sanctuary.
It is very natural that the disciples should
have desired to commemorate the resurrec
ton Of their Lord They gathered on the first
day of the week 10 tell agun tte story OF hit
power to find comfort in the n,rcry Of hli
love and service, to encourage each other il
the hopr- -abrrtng presence 4t+et+- eon
verts gathered with them. sunday after sun
they met. Larger and larger became the com
pany Of those who met TINS gradually de
yeloped the Christians Sunday new sab
bath. fulfilling the divine designs Of the in
stitution of a day OF rest and worship and ana
ogous 70 the cid Jewish Sabbath Waich nat
passed away with the aboshing Of tho Mosa
dspensation by Lord.
We trust these considerations may enable
our friends to that there is now no NOR
reason for observing a CERTAIN eay e the weeI
as the sabbath than there is for observing th
ancient and elaborate ritual and ceremonial
, s., stem of the Hebrews Jesus has taught ii
WET the motive and spirit counta. not tie me
chspiea expressions of them. The g1et Z