Our Bible Reading by H. W. Cottrell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 23, 1912

Our Bible Reading

By H. W. Cottrell

Origin of the Sabbath

1. With whom did the Sabbath have its origin? With God. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and RESTED THE SEVENTH DAY: wherefore the Lord BLESSED the SABBATH DAY, and HALLOWED IT. Ex. 20: 11.

2. When did the Sabbath have its origin? AT CREATION. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God . . . rested . . . from all His work which He had made. Gen. 2: 1, 2.

3. Whose day, then, is the Sabbath? But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. Ex. 20: 10.

4. Did God bless weekly succession of Sabbaths after its origin? And God BLESSED the seventh day, and SANCTIFIED it: because that in it He HAD rested from all His work which God created and made. Gen. 2: 3. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and RESTED THE SABBATH DAY ACCORDING to the COMMANDMENT. Now upon the first day of the WEEK, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher. Luke 23: 56; 24: 1.

5. How long will the Sabbath, which had its origin with God, continue? I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him. Eccl. 3: 14. The Scripture can not be broken. John 10: 35.

NOTE.—As long as gravitation is the cause of the falling stone, the hailstone will continue to fall. Likewise, as long as God is the cause, inventor, originator, of His rest—the Sabbath—so long will it continue to exist among men. H. W. COTTRELL.