p. 165 | REMARKS ON THE ABOVE by R. F. C.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 14, 1858

REMARKS ON THE ABOVE.

By R. F. C.

We echo the inquiry, "What law or authority has abrogated the law of the Sabbath?" And still further, we ask, What law or authority has changed the law of the Sabbath, so that it binds us to keep the first, instead of the seventh day of the week? Our friend, "E. B." replies, "The new dispensation, and the Lord Jesus Christ, have established the first day of the week as being the Christian Sabbath."

Could not the Lord Jesus Christ have established the first day, if such had been his will and the will of him that sent him, without the aid of the "new dispensation?" Why not then say at once that Christ changed the Sabbath? Ah! some one might ask, Where is the record? And since the record cannot be found, he has brought in the "new dispensation," as the first and principal agent in establishing the first day as the Christian Sabbath; and the Lord Jesus Christ is denounced in the second place, as giving, by his silence on the subject, his divine assent to the change!

It therefore becomes a matter of interest to ascertain the date of this new dispensation. The first law upon record, either sacred or profane, establishing the first day as the Sabbath of rest for all, in country and town, was enacted by the council of Orleans in A. D. 538. Dr. Chambers says, "By Constantine's laws, made in 321, it was decreed that for the future the Sunday should be kept a day of rest, in the cities and towns; but he allowed the country people to follow their work. In 538 the council of Orleans prohibited this country labor." Encyc., Art. Sund. Lond. 1791. Now since this council of Orleans was held in the very year that the dragon gave his seat and his power and great authority to the beast, it appears that the Man of Sin and this "new dispensation," that "established the first day of the week as being the Christian Sabbath," are twin brothers.

Our writer further says, "It is worthy of remark that the Lord Jesus Christ came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill." It is equally worthy of remark that, in the same connection, Jesus said, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law." Consequently there can be no change in the law, not so much as a letter or a mark. And yet our friend pleads for the first day, as the holy day of sacred rest, while the law still says, The seventh day is the Sabbath. How can an honest man quote this passage to prove the perpetuity of the Sabbath, and, at the same time claim that first day is the Sabbath, and not the seventh? Why was our Saviour so particular as to speak of a letter or a tittle, if he did not mean literally what he said?

The writer seems to look to civil law for a remedy of the monstrous evil of which he complains, and which he seems to deprecate with so much piety. "How painful," he says, "to see church members, and even deacons, vacating the sanctuary and Sabbath-schools, to take toll, to give clearances, &c., on the holy sabbath?"

Now I would ask, Is there no law in the churches of sufficient power and authority to keep "church members, and even deacons" in their places on what they call the Sabbath? Must statute laws and "canal commissioners" be called on to keep church members and deacons at church or Sabbath-school on Sunday?

Men are free in this State to choose their own occupation. No one is compelled to take toll or give clearances who does not choose to do so. But the truth is, Sunday has but little or no dominion over men's consciences, in this land of Bibles, because there is no law of God for its observance. If there was, ministers would not be obliged to appeal to the State authorities to keep their church members and deacons at their posts on that day. But as did the "Mother Church," so do her daughters; when arguments, addressed to the understanding and consciences of men, fail to induce a respect to their unscriptural doctrines, the aid of civil law is invoked to open the eyes of the understanding, and compel respect.

Babylon is fallen, is fallen. And I pray God to hasten the time when all of his dear children will hear and heed the voice from heaven. Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

R. F. C.