Definite or Indefinite.
By R. F. Cottrell
It is held very extensively that the fourth commandment is indefinite in respect to the day—that it requires the observance of one day in seven, but does not bind us to any particular day. Hence the day of the Sabbath is changeable; and hence no express precept or revelation is necessary in order to the change of the day. The use of this theory is readily seen. It supplies a deficiency, not to say a defect, in the New Testament, provided it were a fact that the fourth commandment ever bound any one to the definite seventh day. Those who hold this view should read the fourth commandment carefully, and then point out the change or changes in its language which would be necessary to bind those to whom the Sabbath was given to a particular day. The commandment might be framed so as to require a definite day. How should it read, had God intended to make the Sabbath institution inseparable from the seventh day? Sabbath-day means Rest-day. "The seventh day is the Rest-day of the Lord"—the day on which the Lord rested. "In it thou shalt do no work." "For 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 Rest-day and hallowed it." Did he rest on one day in seven, and on no particular day? or did he rest on the definite seventh day of the seven? Did he bless and sanctify an indefinite day, because that in it he had rested from his work? Let us suppose a case for illustration. Suppose the United States should enact for its subjects as follows: Remember the day of the declaration of independence, to celebrate it in due form. The fourth day of July is the day of the declaration; in it thou shalt fire a national salute, and spend the day in reading the declaration, patriotic speeches, and festivities. For in it, after mature deliberation, the American Congress at Philadelphia signed the declaration, declaring the thirteen colonies free and independent States. Wherefore the day of the declaration is thus specially honored. Would any one say that this law required the observance of no particular day? Would any say the fifth of August would do just as well as the fourth of July? Would any claim that all are at liberty to choose what day they please, and that the day of the fall of Richmond would even be more acceptable than the day on which the declaration was made? No; none of this. No one would think of trifling thus with the enactments of his government, at least no loyal, law-abiding citizen. The day of the declaration is the fourth of July; it is not possible that it should be any other day. No one would think of substituting another day. So the Rest-day of Jehovah is the day on which he rested. Yet men seem to trifle with the commandment for its observance. Does God live and reign? and will he not bring such things into judgment? Will he not convince the world that his law is not to be trifled with—that he speaks as he means, and means what he says?