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THE SUNDAY

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 13, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 11.

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THE SUNDAY.

By Max Hill

IN the minds of some men, to state a thing is to prove it. Facts, plain, historical facts have nothing to do with a matter when these men want proof for their belief and actions. Indeed, the word of God is not authority for them. Many times they do not know of its teachings. As an example of this is the statement of the Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, the author of many semi-religious books, that "as a matter of fact, the Author of the best law we have on Sunday observance is God." He then tells his readers the objects "for which Sunday was established at the beginning of history."
Now our Bible, which we believe to be inspired, in spite of the grave doubts of its critics and the wilful misinterpretation of others,—our Bible says that God "rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God created and made." And this is the inspired account of the "beginning of history." We can not read even between the lines any mention of the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.
Another of his arguments is this: "All the best Sunday laws which have been enacted in this country have been declared constitutional by the supreme courts of the States and by the United States Supreme Court, and in rendering their decisions the supreme courts in many instances have declared that Sunday laws rest down ultimately upon a fundamental need of the race of one day in seven which differs from the other days." Laws relating to murder and other crimes are constitutional. This has never been questioned. The State is within its province in making them. But here is a law that must be supported by the assertion that it is constitutional. There is doubt in the minds of some, evidently, or no attempt would be made to prove such a point. Indeed, we do not know what the Framers of the Constitution meant when they inserted the provision, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion," etc., unless that meant that no religious legislation should be enacted in the United States. A Sunday law sounds like religious legislation to us, all the supreme courts in the United States to the contrary notwithstanding.
"Sunday laws rest down ultimately upon the fundamental need of the race of one day in seven which differs from other days." Why Sunday? Why not Wednesday? And why must the State regulate the matter? Where are the churches whose duty it is to teach the people these vital truths? Did you ever tell your child to do something, and then feel that tho he did it, there was absolutely no willingness or love in it? He did it only because he was compelled to do so, in which case there was really no obedience at all. The same sort of "Sabbath-keeping" will be the result of enforced Sunday laws, whether constitutional or not. Only willing obedience can be pleasing to God.
"History has proved many times that nations which disregard Sunday and use it for dissipation, for commercial enterprises, or for purposes of entertainment are in decline or decay." Which nations, for instance? The Jewish nation declined, we read, but God Himself told that nation that it was because they broke the Sabbath that He allowed the Babylonians to take them captive. Egypt refused to obey God and declined as a result. Greece knew nothing about the worship of the true God, and retrograded. Rome. There is the nation! She it was that exalted the "venerable day of the sun"—"the wild, solar holiday of all times." During her supremacy, the "fathers" tell us, the day was set apart for worship. Yet she declined and apparently still declines. We wonder why. Who set it apart?—The fathers.
"There can never be any repeal of the old commandment, 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,' without striking a blow at the very fundamental basis of the Republic." One would think that those who advocate Sunday laws would hesitate to quote the commandment to support their views, for it says nothing about the first day of the week. It says distinctly, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Besides, if they have a civil constitution for support, what need is there to quote God's word in the matter! Back of the Sabbath is the Constitution of heaven.
MAX HILL.