Untitled article by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 6, 1867

BOOK NOTICE.

By Editor

THE long-announced work of T. M. Preble on the Sabbath question, it appears, is finally to be issued, about the middle of the present month. We received from the office of the Voice of the West, advance proof of the following notice of the work, with a request that it be inserted in the Review:

A New Work on the Sabbath Question.

THE following is the title of a new and important work to be issued about the middle of August:

THE FIRST-DAY SABBATH: clearly proved by showing that the old covenant, or ten commandments, have been changed, or made complete, in the Christian dispensation. In two parts. By T. M. Preble, author of “Two Hundred Stories for Children,” “Three Kingdoms,” “Two Adams,” &c. “The Sabbath was made for man.” (Jesus.) Buchanan, Michigan: Published by the W. A. C. P. Association.

The author of this work has adopted a plan in treating upon this long-controverted question so different from other writers who have heretofore written upon it as to make it a valuable book for all classes of readers.

1. It is shown conclusively, by a plain Scriptural argument, that the old Jewish law, or covenant, has been “done away;” not in the sense of annihilation, but in the sense of being made “perfect,” or “complete,” under the “new covenant.”

2. It is also clearly proved, that in the gospel dispensation there has been a change of days for the observance of the Sabbath. But the Sabbath, as an institution, is not changed. Neither can it be; for it “was made for man”—for all mankind. This is a point of much importance in settling the Sabbath question. The Sabbath as an institution for septennial rest, is one thing; but the particular day of the week on which this rest is to be observed, is quite another thing.

3. In confirmation of a change of days, from the seventh to the first day of the week, full and complete extracts are given from the early Christian fathers, from eminent historians, and the earliest and most able writers upon the Sabbath question, proving that the early Christians did observe the first-day of the week for the Sabbath. This forms a chapter of great value to all persons who desire correct historical information upon this long-controverted subject.

4. It is also proved by copious extracts from Ecclesiastical history, that the Waldenses, or true church of Christ, observed the first-day of the week, or Lord’s day, all the way through the “dark ages,” from the days of Constantine the Great, and Pope Sylvester, until the Reformation.

5. A review of U. Smith, a recent writer in favor of the seventh-day Sabbath, [in which it is shown that he has perverted the truth.]

6. Also a review of J. N. Andrews’ [pretended] History of the Sabbath, [in which it is proved that he has unwisely deceived his readers.]

Orders for the above work are solicited, and will be promptly filled as soon as the book is published.

To ministers we make the following offer: Any minister sending us the names of six subscribers for the book, with the money, shall receive a copy post-paid.

The book will contain nearly 500 pages. The retail price will be $2.00. Sent by mail, post-paid, on the receipt of the price.

Address all orders to Joshua V. Himes, Buchanan, Mich.

Over the words inclosed in brackets in paragraphs 5 and 6, a pencil mark was drawn, in the copy we received for insertion in the Review. It was no doubt very kind in the Voice to be so considerate of our feelings as thus to intimate that we need not lay those expressions before our readers; or else it was a tacit acknowledgment on its part, that it was ashamed of them. But as we notice that the Voice gives them in full to its readers we do not see why ours should be deprived of them.

The readers of the Review are already acquainted with the style in which Eld. P. has heretofore treated this question; and from the tenor of the foregoing notice, we have reason to suppose that he has not improved upon his former effort. Take the title: “The First-day Sabbath: clearly proved by showing that the old covenant, or ten commandments, have been changed or made complete in the Christian dispensation.” Passing by the unscriptural assumption that the ten commandments constituted the first or old covenant, we simply inquire what change has taken place in them, according to Eld. P. Why, simply the first day of the week has been put in place of the seventh, as the Sabbath. This is all the change that any Protestant will claim. But by this change, says Eld. P., the commandments were perfected or completed. Then before this change they were imperfect and incomplete. That is, so long as the original day on which God rested, and which he blessed and sanctified, remained in the commandments, they were imperfect. But when that was torn away, and the first day of the week, the heathen festival of the sun, never rested upon by any divine being, never blessed, never sanctified, never commanded to be kept holy, never even taken into the lips of the Lord of the Sabbath,—when this day was put in place of the seventh, then the commandments were perfected! Perfection with a vengeance!

But further, we are told that the institution is one thing, the particular day of the week another. This is the old seventh-part-of-time theory, which is to all practical intents, a no-Sabbath theory; since all Sabbath and no-Sabbath are virtually the same thing. But if the commandment only requires a seventh part of time, and one day answers its demand as well as another, how is it changed by putting the first-day in place of the seventh? and how, after this day is put in, is it any more perfect than it was before? We shall look with some interest to see how these points are explained.

Adventists have heretofore been, on this question, too much like Spiritualists, in utter confusion among themselves, and acknowledging no standard or authority; and if this book is simply to be an expression of the views of T. M. Preble, it will be of no consequence whatever. But if any considerable body of Adventists endorse it as an exposition of their views, and rest their cause upon its arguments, it may be of consequence to examine it. We shall wait to learn in what light they regard it; and our readers may then hear from us further on the subject.