The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-05-08

/ Day morning, April Zo, 1917. LUG oc[ip-
tural truths set forth have awakened con-
siderable interest, and at the request OF
the Editors, the sermon has been furnish
ed in full.
"Remember the Sabbath day to keep
it holy; six days shall thou labor and
do all thy work; but the Sabbath day
is the Sabbath Of the Lord thy God; In
it though shalt not do any work, thou,
nor thy son, nor thy daughter. my I'M.
thy cattle, nor thy stranger that i5
within thy gates; flor In six days the
Lord made heaven and earth, the sea
and all that in them Is, and rested the
seventh day; wherefore the Lord
blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed
it.-.Ex. 2O:S-11.
1t Is always unfortunate when the Ian
guage used in religious conversation or
the written creed Of the Church does not
conform to the language Of our English
Bible 1t Is always permissible in writing
book for the author to define a term as
he intends to use it throughout the pages
of his book, and if he adheres consistently
to his own definition Of the term, he is
within his rights. But II he happens to
use word well-established In meaning In
QluoC0uC SeuSo lIOu Clttg uSunuy AoSoA'
| ed, he makes himself liable to be misun-
derstood. From this no serious conse-
quences may follow, except the book be on
| the subject Of morals or religion.
| In all our conversation and writing on
spiritual things, we ought to conform our
| language to the terminology Of the Bible,
unless there Is clear mistranslation, or
unless the meaning Of the words has
changed in the three centuries since the
King James version was made.
have spoken to you about the use OF
the words Church Of Christ and Kingdom
Of Christ. The Bible clearly distinguishes
between these, uses them consistently
throughout, and yet to the majority TO-
day, these terms are synonymous. In the
average mind they are one and the same,
and are 80 used. AS result, the whole
matter OF Gods plan concerning the course
OF time Is unknown, and totally false no.
tions OF missions everywhere prevail. ., :,
On the other hand, by not changing the
word idamnation as used In Cor: II :29
many other false notions :are believed.
The word damnation in the verse three
hundread years ago meant what we now
mean by Judgment or condemnation, and
not endless final perdition.
| We have called attention to this princi-
pie at some length because 1t is matter
affecting vitality the understanding OF the
fourth commandment. This command
begn gd tSen the be ssDaaef ssss Of
the commandment defines how it is to be
kept holy and why. 1t was the seventh
day after six days of labor. This was call
ed the Sabbath. NowI find many about
here speak Of the first day Of the week as
the Sabbath. Search the Bible through,
and you will find no warrant for 1t any
where in its pages. Men have thus taken
Scriptural word with perfectly defi.
mite meaning and applied 1t to another use.
If the use to which it were applied were
consistent with Scripture, no harm would
be done, but unfortunately men hearing
| talk about the Sabbath and then looking
| into the Bible to find out about 1t, imagine
| that what Is there said about the Sabbath
applies to the first day Of the week, and as
result. totally false notion prevails
with regard to this commandment.
The Sabbath first appears In Scripture as
the day Of Gods rest In the finished work
OF creation. For $500 years there is not
single ;mention OF 1t In scripture slter
this. We are told In nehemiah 9:l3-l4
that the Sabbath was revealed at Mt. 81
mai, and this important passage fixes be-
yond all cayil that 1t was unknown to man
| till then. At Sinai God made it part OF the
decalogue, and invested 1t with the nature
of q sign between Jehovah and Israel, q
perpetual reminder OF their separation to
God. Ex. 81 1917. The manner or Its OBJ
servance was that Of complete rest. and by
Gods express command man was put 10
death for gathering sticks on that day.
Apart from the daily sacrifices, 1t was not
a day of religious worship. In connection
with the seven annual feasts, 1t played an
important part but the seventh day Sab
bath recurring 81 times year was never
for special sacrifices, worship or any rell-
gious ordinance whatever. You can veri-
fy this statement by making thorough
study of the Old Testament. 1t was SIM
ply and entirely day OF rest, q humane
provision for mans needs and beasts
needs.
If the first day Of the week were intend
ed to take the place exactly OF the seventh
day Of the week, then we certainly misuse
and abuse it from almost every stand
point.
The Christian first day, called in the
Scriptures, the Lords day, never the Sab.
bath, perpetuates in the dispensation OF
grace that one seventh OF our time should
| be kept for sacred purposes, but In all 9TH
er respects Is in contrast with the Sabbath.
| One is the seventh day, the other Is the
first. The Sabbath commentaries Gods
creation rest. the first day Christ's resur-
| rection On the seventh day God rested.
| On the first day Christ was ceaSelessly &C.
tive. The seventh day commentaries q
| finished creation. the first finished re-
demption The Sabbath was day OF le-
gal obligation, the first day one Of volun-
| tary worship and service. The Sabbath is
mentioned in the Acts only In connection
with the JewS' and in the epistles only
twice, ;once in the Hebrews which was
written to Jews and the other time In
Colossians, In which 1t Isl expressly said
that it must not be observed.
Our attitude toward this commandment
is settled by our relation to Christ. II you
are Christian, you are not under Its au-
| thOrity. 1t is part OF the law. The
Christian Is not under the law, but under
grace Rom. 6:l4. The Christian therefore
is not under5the authority OF the fourth
commandment. You are not required to
keep it. do not see how anything could
be palmer.
If, however, you are not a,Christian, you
are under 1t. II, after six days OF labor,
you do not rest absolutely, you are guilty
Of wiltul violation OF the law OF God. You
are just as guilty as a profane swearer, d
murderer, an adulterer, thief, liar, or
mands Of the decalogue. One violation OF
this, unforgiven, by God, Is enough to damn
the soul eternally. You are bound to keep
the seventh day Sabbath.
| The natural question therefore that is In
! the mind OF my hearers Is doubtless this.
| II then I accept Christ as my personal Sa-
viour, am free to do as please on the
Sabbath day? Yes, you are absolutely free
to do as you please And as matter OF
| fact am not acquainted with any one at
all eycept a few Jews and Seventh Day ad-