p. 6 | The Seven Day Slave

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 14, 1907

The Seven Day Slave

UNDER the title, “The Seven Day Slave,” the Home Herald (Ram’s Horn) of February 6, says:—

The oldest institution in the world is the Sabbath. Before God established the church, before he planted the family in Eden, he set apart the seventh day for rest. He also hallowed it. That made it holy.

The Sabbath is unique among religious institutions in that it is older than all religions, and it is therefore incumbent upon all the race to observe it, whether Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, or pagan.

God is not particular about the particular day, but he does insist on this principle, that one seventh of our time is to be devoted to rest and recuperation, and readjustment of body, mind, and spirit.

This divine injunction against ceaseless toil lies not only in the commandments uttered on Sinai; it is inherent in the constitution of our being. The man or nation that breaks that injunction is guilty of contempt of court, and pays a penalty by losing vigor of body and mind, and by losing the fine sense of susceptibility to the divine,—the touch with the unseen which comes from close communion with God.

Presumption could hardly go further than it has gone in this. The law of this land means what the Supreme Court declares it to mean. And here is a self-arrogated supreme court sitting upon the law of God, declaring the meaning of its phraseology and the extent of its functions. God has given a very particular law, and designated a particular day to be observed. He gave Israel many evidences of his intention regarding the day he appointed. That he was particular about it is shown in the penalties imposed upon those who disregarded the Sabbath law. But the Home Herald, with the generality of Christendom, has in effect, pronounced this part of the law of God unconstitutional, and given an interpretation of God’s intentions which the spirit of Inspiration did not deign to do. It is true that the man who does not regard the Sabbath loses “the fine sense of susceptibility to the divine.” It is also true that he who passes upon the constitutionality of the law of God and interprets it to suit his own convenience loses “the fine sense of susceptibility to the divine.” There is more in the Sabbath of Jehovah than resting one day in seven. There is the matter of obedience or disobedience to the command of God; and there can be no greater “contempt of court” than that shown in the extract above.