THE SABBATH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
By James White
Under this caption last week we denied in the most unqualified manner that any of the precepts of the moral code were given over a second time on a new account in the New Testament. They were not abrogated at the death of Christ, hence no reason why they should be repeated verbatim in the New Testament. We proved that the statement so often repeated from the sacred desk, and in religious prints, that nine of the ten commandments were reaffirmed in the New Testament, is not true. We showed that but three of the ten precepts of the divine law are repeated word for word in the New Testament. And it is worthy of notice that these three are those very short ones: Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not steal; and that no one of the long commandments are quoted verbatim. On this subject we briefly remark:— 1. The apostles, who wrote a quarter of a century or more after the death of Christ, state moral duties, and appeal to the precepts of the moral code as the highest living authority of their time. 2. The long precepts are never repeated in the New Testament word for word. The second and fourth cannot be found there in any form whatever. Of the thirty-three words of the tenth precept of the moral code only four words are quoted in any one place in the New Testament. 3. If it had been left to the writers of the epistles and acts of the apostles to re-affirm nine of the precepts of the moral code, they would have faithfully attended to this matter, and we should find them there word for word. But as they had no such work on their hands, and as they simply referred to the divine precepts as their highest authority, all is plain. The short ones are given word for word because of their brevity; and the sensible writers of the New Testament did not burden their writings in point of length by repeating the long precepts verbatim, when a simple reference to them by repeating a portion would fully answer their purpose. 4. Driven from the position that all the precepts of the divine law, excepting the fourth, are reaffirmed in the New Testament, this class of opponents are compelled to admit that in the case of the second commandment reference is made only to the principle or facts upon which the precept is based. This is all they can possibly maintain. When fairly and squarely on this ground, then we are prepared to say to them that the term “Sabbath,” in the singular number, which expresses the very institution sustained by the fourth precept of the moral code, is mentioned fifty-nine times in the New Testament. So that when it comes to this—and by the grace of God, and the authority of his word, we shall drive our opponents to the point—that in some of the nine precepts reference is made by the apostles to only the principle or fact which gave rise to the precept, then it will be seen that Sabbatarians are ahead, having fifty-nine references to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment in the New Testament. Can as many references be shown from the New Testament to any other one of the ten precepts of the decalogue? Search and see. 5. Why labor to dodge the point? The Sabbath is either abrogated, or it is not. It is either the duty of the people of God to observe the Sabbath, or it is not their duty. It is either binding, or it is not. The observance of the Sabbath is not partly right and partly wrong. If the Sabbath was abolished at the death of Christ, it was a living institution in full force up to the cross, and there has been no weekly Sabbath since. The Sabbath has either been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week, or it has not been changed. We should observe the first day of the week as the Christian Sabbath, or we should not. We should observe the seventh day, or we should not. Where is the plain proof from the New Testament that the Sabbath is abrogated? What prophet of God has declared that the moral code of the Infinite One should be abolished, or changed? And what apostle has stated in plain terms that anything of this kind has taken place? Christ, in his memorable sermon on the mount, seems to anticipate the discussion of the law question in the Christian church, and as a rebuke of wrong thinking upon the subject, and to guide to correct thoughts, he says: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matt. 5:17, 18. J. W.