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THE SABBATH

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 11, 1877

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 49, No. 2.

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THE SABBATH.

By C. W. S.

The following is the report of the committee on the observance of the Sabbath, taken from the Wisconsin Annual Conference Minutes, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1876:—
“In the great items that go to make up the world's values, the Sabbath ranks with the few that are principal and chief. Its total obliteration would be an incalculable loss to the world, and probably fatal to any good world issue. To the Christian mind, it must seem that it imperils all the interest involved, if it shall not utterly wreck it forever.
“In the history of human existence and of divine Providence, the Sabbath stands out conspicuous. In the elements and authority which originate it, it is co-eval with its divine Author—as old as God; and in its actual institution, it is as old as the race.
“There are three forms in which God conditions himself among men, making himself visible to human observation and within the range of their senses. One is the visible creation, which constantly proclaims this power, wisdom, and right of control; this is the divine conditionment in space. By the institution of the Sabbath, God conditions himself in time, and visibly so to man. It is the divine signature on time. The period of every seventh diurnal revolution is set apart exclusively for fellowship and appropriate intercommunication between God and man. The third form of divine manifestation is by his written word. This is a key to the whole economy of divine and human existence, set forth in human language with a wise adaptation to man's low condition, and constitutes a hand-book and directory to man in all his relations.
“The Sabbath, then, is one of the three only modes in which God manifests himself to the sensible observation of men.
“Though it comes as silently as the great machinery of Heaven moves, yet its periodical return is suited to produce an immense effect on the world's thought, will, act, and character: 1. By its frequent occurrence—every seventh day. 2. By the fact that it requires the total suspension for that day of all human industry in the direction of worldly acquisition. 3. It challenges the entire and total of the world's attention, and that it be directed exclusively to the world's Creator, and be occupied in his worship.
“This claim, so comprehensive and in such a direction, must meet, in its enforcement on a selfish and revolted world, with great repugnance and hostility; and its history in the past and its outlook for the future show this to be a fact.
“If we would have salvation and the God of Salvation in this world, we must have his Sabbath. It is his sanctuary in time—his special levy on duration, where he epochs himself in chronology with all finite things. The Sabbath pushed out is God displaced and the eternal order of things reversed.
“To the church of God is committed that solemn trust—the Sabbath faith—God's witnessing day. Whatever of heroism or sacrifice it may require, the Sabbath faith must be kept alive in the world, even at the cost of martyrdom.”
Yes, “we must have his Sabbath.” I think the writer of the above must have been reading the fourth commandment. I hope, at least, that he would not spoil the good thoughts written above if we were to quote him, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”
C. W. S.