THE SABBATH | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 2, 1880

THE SABBATH.

ITS ORIGIN, BENEFITS, AND DURABILITY.

THE Sabbath originated in the example of God, the maker of Heaven and earth, who was the first Sabbath-keeper. In six creative days he formed the world, and on the seventh he rested. He did not rest on account of weariness. The six days were not spent in work because God required so much time to complete the task. He could have created the world in six seconds as easily as in six days. He worked six days to set us an example. He rested the seventh day for the same purpose. He knew all things from the beginning—man's nature and needs. He designed a perpetually recurring Sabbath of rest and worship. In no mode sublime and glorious manner could that institution have been given us. It comes like an echo from eternity, that one word, “remember,” “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”

The Sabbath day is no arbitrary requirement, because it is adapted to man's wants, the wants of his body, his mind, and his soul, as much as the light is to the eye, or the blood to the veins. It is a natural obligation for man's own good, and therefore cannot be arbitrary. The law of the Sabbath is eternal; it is the establishment of the Almighty, and a part of his creative work. Can man change it? As well attempt to change himself to an unaccountable creature. Can the church, could Christ, change the Sabbath law? Certainly not; for he came to fulfill the law and make it honorable. Was the Sabbath made for the Jews, or any other specific class? It was created for man, before any Jews or sect existed. See Mark 2:27, Christ's words: “And he said unto them, the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”

God set the Sabbath apart for sacred uses. It is lifted above other days, and should be devoted to reflection, prayer, and intenser worship than is expected on other days of the week. He meant that the seventh day should be rescued from the toils of the six working days of the week; therefore set it apart and sanctified it as holy time. Can man change that sanctification to the first day of the week, or any other day?

Impossible. God meant that all men of toil should have one day in each week to wipe the sweat from their brows, and lift their faces towards God in worship. He did not mean the Sabbath for a holiday, nor did he sanctify it for a day of idleness, dissipation, or carousal. Better for man that he should toil three hundred and sixty-five days in the year than spend it in such a way. One day of dissipation does more harm than seven days of honest toil. God solemnly blessed the seventh day at creation, and set it apart for man's benefit, improvement, and present and future glory. To attempt to interfere with its binding force, is to attempt an interference with God himself. “Remember,” means to put you on your guard.

There seems to be a double requirement upon this Sabbath command. It makes you, to a certain extent, your brother's keeper, and even makes you a servant of trust to the cattle of toil within your gates. How is it with you on the Sabbath or seventh day?

In giving the Sabbath to man, God not only showed his mercy to them, but to the domestic animals, that so patiently serve during the six days of toil, and has made it your business to protect them from labor on the Sabbath day, that they may recuperate as well as mankind. The Sabbath command reaches both ways, as does no other command of the decalogue. It tells you what you must do, and what you must not do. Excuses for its violation, on account of surrounding circumstances, are of no avail, for the Sabbath is an edict of the Almighty, and must stand, regardless of man's inventions, until time shall be no more.

To attempt to substitute the first day of the week in its place, or to enact laws to protect Sunday observance, are attempts to violate the command that forbids the serving of other gods than the One that created the heavens and the earth in six days, and rested the seventh day. It is equivalent to the telling of one falsehood to cover another. God cannot be deceived, though he may be offended; “but woe to him by whom the offense cometh.” Christ says (John 15:10), “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4. “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” 2 John 6. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life.” Blessed inheritance! But how can men attain it and violate the law of God? The promise is to those that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.—Sabbath Recorder.