The Sabbath was Made for Man.
By S. P. C.
1. THE foundation of the Sabbath was laid with the foundation of the earth. Why did He whose Omnipotent word could call worlds into existence—who “spake and it was done”—employ six days in the creation of the world? Why, but for the single purpose of setting an example to man, of laboring six days and resting on the seventh, or, in other words, of laying the foundation of the Sabbath? The Sabbath was made for man, man was made to inhabit the earth, and the earth was as round then as it is now. Hence all the objections reared against the Sabbath from the shape and motion of the earth, are only an impeachment of His wisdom who made the Sabbath for man. 2. After extending his creative labors to six days, God rested on the seventh. This made the seventh day, the rest day, or Sabbath of the Lord. The Sabbath of the Lord, is the day on which the Lord rested. Then, until this historic fact can be changed, and it become a fact that God rested some other day of the week than the seventh, the Sabbath of the Lord cannot be changed to another day. “Remember” what? The Sabbath day. Which day of the week is it? “The seventh day.” Whose Sabbath is it? “The Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” “Keep it holy.” Why rest on and keep holy the seventh day? “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.” He who made the Sabbath for man, has in his providence, preserved the week from the beginning to the present time, so that Jews, Mahomedans and Christians, are all agreed in its reckoning; therefore there is no excuse for those who would excuse themselves on the ground that the reckoning of the week has been lost. The Sabbath was made for man, not for a portion of our race only; therefore the Lord requires you, dear reader, to remember the very day on which he rested and keep it holy. A substitute will not be accepted. 3. The creation week was now in the past—its six days of labor, and its day of rest. The example was set—the Sabbath was made. God had rested on the seventh day. But, as the Sabbath was made for man, something more was needed—something must be added to the example, to let man know that it was an example for him to follow. An example is of no force until it is known to be an example. The Sabbath must be set apart for man's observance. “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.” Why? “Because that in it he had rested from all his work.” Did God bless and sanctify, or set apart one day in seven and no particular day? No sir. Such language is as absurd as it would be to talk of burning up one house out of seven, and no house in particular. Did he bless a day of rest after six days of toil? Yes, and more; he blessed the very day on which he rested—he blessed the seventh day; because in it he had rested. Thus the Sabbath, which was made for man, was sanctified, (set apart,) for man's observance. Some say that “we ought to sanctify the Sabbath.” If they speak of some other than the seventh day, their phraseology may be admissible, for no other of the seven has God sanctified. But if we speak of the seventh day, God himself has sanctified it; and he does not ask us to sanctify it, but to remember it and keep it holy. Reader, God has never removed his blessing and sanctification from the seventh day of the week; but he still requires you, and all men, to “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” You may disregard his holy law and say it is abolished, but for this, God will bring you into judgment. You may, if you choose, attempt to evade his commandment, offering him a substitute which he has never blessed or sanctified, but it will not benefit you. His answer is, “Who hath required this at your hand?” “In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Even those who would evade the claims of the definite seventh day, by saying that the Sabbath is a day of rest after six of labor, still admit the necessity of being agreed in the observance of a particular day. But how can they be agreed unless God appoints the day? He has appointed the day—blessed and sanctified it. Will you keep it? From the beginning of his wondrous plan,
God made a perfect law to govern man;
And scarcely were the earth's foundations laid,
Before, for man, the Sabbath day was made.
God surely knew, as well as we, 'twas best,
One day in seven, to have a holy rest.
He knew, if social worship was desired,
A portion of our time would be required.
He knew, as well as any man can tell,
To be agreed in time, it would be well.
He also knew that men might rise and say,
That God had failed to specify the day.
Therefore he firmly fixed the Sabbath day,
By an immutable, historic fact.
First formed the week by labor and by rest,
And then the Rest-day sanctified and blest.
In after time, lest this should be forgot,
He graved it deep in the eternal rock.
And knowing well, the point would be contested,
He bade us keep the day on which he rested.
Foreseeing too, that some would wish t' excuse
Themselves and say, 'twas given to the Jews;
Therefore our blessed Saviour has defined,
“The Sabbath made for man”—for all mankind.
S. P. C.