The Sabbath Not Jewish.
By Uriah Smith
SINCE then the sacred institution stands,
Old as the world and broad as all its lands,
Since made when Time's great circuit first begun,
'Twill last, of course, as long as time shall run.
Since made for him, the Father of mankind,
For all his offspring, 'twas, of course, designed.
Absurd to think such institution given--
Link most divine, connecting earth with heaven,
A sacred chain, joining, in due degree,
Man with his God, time with eternity;
Given for the good of all who dwell below,
Designed o'er all its blessings to bestow--
Absurd to think that it was destined, then,
For but a portion of the race of men;
Or to be pinioned by the bounds of space,
Or reverenced only by a single race!
Say, you who claim, and speak as though you knew,
That it was given only for the Jew,
Were our first parents Jews? If so, then how
Are not all earth's great nations Jewish now?
Or if long years successive rolled away,
Ere national divisions held their sway,
And ere the Jews arose, who were to know
What blessings from the holy Sabbath flow,
For whom alone it was designed, you say--
Why made so long before 'twas needed, pray?