The Sabbath by JOS. CLARKE

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 25, 1866

"The Sabbath."

By JOS. CLARKE

THIS is the title of a work by Rev. James Gilfillan, of Stirling, Scotland. It is a well-bound volume of six hundred and thirty-five pages, published and extensively circulated by the American Tract Society, 150, Nassau Street, New York.

The author is evidently a man of learning, and of deep research, and of unwearied industry.

His work contains very many excellent sentiments, and in treating upon the Sabbatic institution, he is unexceptionable in a considerable part of his reasoning. Indeed you might imagine that he would certainly come out a true advocate of Jehovah's Rest Day; but it is painful to state, that with all his fine reasoning, and his excellent style, he does in a few sentences, overturn his best efforts for God and his holy law, and transfers to the enemy a book which might have been the means of an untold amount of good, but which will now do much against the observance of the true Sabbath. The error is more especially to be regretted in a work of so much ability and apparent candor.

JOS. CLARKE.

NOTE. We have a copy of the work to which Bro. C. refers above. In relation to the institution of the Sabbath, its observance by the patriarchs, its perpetuity and universal obligation, its necessity in a moral and physical point of view, &c., it reasons well, and we have long purposed to make some extracts from it on these points, in due time, for the Review. The book argues for a change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week, and urges the usual reasons with which Sabbath-keepers are so familiar. This is favorable; for this is the weakest view that exists on the Sabbath question. We therefore do not so much regret the circulation of this work; for if people can become well-instructed on the great principles which this book inculcates, when the agitation is brought to bear more directly upon them, we imagine it will not be a difficult matter to show them that the doctrine of a change of day is not known in the Bible. This being once accomplished, the question will lie with them between the doctrine of no Sabbath, and the true seventh-day Sabbath. But they cannot then take no-Sabbath ground, or even retain their Sunday theory, without abandoning more of the teachings of the book, than they would have to do, to embrace the true Sabbath. Thus it may turn out that in many cases Mr. G. will have unconsciously done more for the truth than against it.