The Definite Seventh Day.
By W. W. Watson
I HAVE just read Eld. J. N. Andrews’ “Examination of Eld. T. M. Preble’s First-day Sabbath,” in REVIEW No. 17, and though quite satisfied with the able manner in which Eld. A. has handled the subject, I may be excused for taking further notice of the matter, by presenting it in a little different light and in a manner sufficiently simple, perhaps, for Eld. P.’s comprehension, whose position seems to be, not merely that the first day is, but that any day may be, the Sabbath, and whose implied declaration is this: “That the Lord never sanctified but one seventh day of the week, and that the day on which he rested.” Question. Why did God command the seventh day observed? Ans. Because he had sanctified it. Ques. Did God command mankind to observe the very day on which he rested? Ans. Because that was past when the command was issued. Ques. Did God command the observance of any day of the week but that on which he rested? Ques. Does the command read indefinitely a seventh day? Ques. Does it read definitely the seventh day? Ques. What day, then, was meant? Ans. Each and every seventh day which succeeded the first seventh day of time, and, consequently, the seventh day of each and every week which succeeded the first week of time. If God never sanctified and hallowed and commanded to be observed any but the very day on which he rested, what authority has Eld. P. for keeping any day for a Sabbath? Is the first-day Sabbath an institution of God or of man? “Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things which are God’s.”