“The Seventh Part of Time.”
By R. F. Cottrell
THIS is one of our best tracts, because it fully meets the most common objection against the Sabbath of the Lord. Whatever else one holds of all the multitudinous, discordant and contradictory theories which errorists oppose against the truth—whether it is a first-day Sabbath, no Sabbath, or every-day Sabbath—the seventh part of time is about sure to have a place somewhere in their creed; hence this tract meets a general demand. As Bro. Littlejohn has suggested, if the term, seventh-day—as used in the 16th of Exodus, the time in which no manna fell—means only a seventh part of the time, then the term, sixth-day—the time in which they gathered a double portion—means simply a sixth part of the time. Taking this thought, and going back to Gen. 1, we find that, according to the theory in question, the fifth day means one-fifth part of the time, the fourth day, one-fourth of all, the third day, one-third, the second day, one-half, and the first day means simply all the time. Of all the subtle sophistries by which Satan helps men to blind their own minds to the truth, nothing has been more successful than this seventh-part-of-time theory; but when it is thoroughly sifted, nothing is more transparent, nothing more ridiculously absurd. It will be found that when the Bible speaks of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh-day, it means a definite day of the week, as much as Sunday, Monday, &c., designate particular days. And all who will read the history of the contentions concerning the two rival days, during past centuries, will find that the Sabbath and the first day have ever been treated as two distinct days. And besides this, when our own free government shall be so perverted as to press Sunday-law upon the people, it will be found that one day in seven and no particular day will not meet the requirement. Why should men treat the law of the great Jehovah as they dare not treat the law of the State? Brethren, let “The Seventh Part of Time” have a wide and judicious circulation. Bro. White informs us that our power press is capable of turning out this tract at the rate of nineteen to the minute. Let the press keep moving! And may God make it a blessing to thousands. And you, brethren and sisters, take a share in this blessed work. In due time you shall reap, if you faint not. R. F. COTTRELL.