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The First Sabbath

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 29, 1872

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 40, No. 20.

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The First Sabbath.

THE dark wilds of chaos had given place to light and life, uncouth, and inorganic matter had assumed forms of beauty and glory, and man, the crowning glory of the new-risen world, had received the complacent benediction of his Heavenly Father, and with a companion, whose graces drew forth from his bosom the perfection of virtuous love, was placed in happy Eden; when a proclamation from God announced the Sabbath’s dawn, and blessed the seventh day as one of holy rest. God himself then rested, for the energies of that power which had evolved the matter of the universe from nonentity and fashioned it to the forms which Infinite Wisdom had devised were now relieved. Omnipotence had rest, for the new creation was ended, and its beaming beauty showed with what perfection the work was finished.
Well might the Almighty bless and sanctify the day which witnessed so glorious a consummation, and well might the sacred Law-giver refer us to this Sabbath of the Lord to enforce the divine requirement expressed in the decalogue. For, to contemplate the scenes of that day, is sufficient to endear the Sabbath to every pious heart. It was a day when Infinite Power and holy created intelligences stood still to witness the harmonious operation of a new-created universe, when the sight of a world that had not been marred by sin drew forth effusions of adoration and praise from the heart of man and angels to its great Creator.
Yes, the calmness of that blissful morning was rendered heavenly by sweet-toned, celestial music, ushering in its dawn. Celestial voices to its burnished air whispered of peace and shouted songs of praise.
“The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Our first parents, in Eden’s Elysian bowers, spent the day in sacred rest. Prayer had not yet been known, for want had not been begotten by transgression, yet a spirit of adoration filled their bosoms, and when the day was passed, it was their privilege to record one Sabbath which man had kept holy unto the Lord.—The Garland.