Methodists on the Sabbath.
By John B. Frisbie
DISCIPLINE.—Art. V. The holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man; that it should be believed as an article of faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. Art. VI. Although the law given from God by Moses as touching ceremonies and rights, doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity be required, yet no Christian whatever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral. Address of the Philadelphia Conference of the M. E. Church. Lord's day. As this is so expressly enjoined upon us in the Bible and the Discipline of our church, it is unnecessary to argue at length its moral obligation. It was instituted by God, and given man when first created and placed in Eden. If this was given to man in his pure state, how much more needful is it in his fallen state! Accordingly God re-enjoined its sacred observance upon the Jews in their ceremonial, civil and moral laws. Isa. lvi, 4, 5; lviii, 13. In perfect accordance with the Scriptures on this subject, it is stated in the General Rules of the Discipline of our Church, "It is expected of all who continue in these societies, that they continue to evidence their desire of salvation by doing no harm, avoiding evil of every kind; such as the profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work therein, or by buying and selling,"—the habit of shaving, or being shaved, blacking boots and shoes, and performing various other little offices and culinary labors on the Sabbath, which certainly ought not to have been omitted on Saturday, and which conflict with the proper discharge of the sacred duties of this holy day. Thus much we say of the church generally. ADAM CLARKE, D. D.—The change of the Jewish into the Christian Sabbath, called the Lord's day, [Rev. i, 10,] shows that Christ is not only the Lord, but also the truth and completion of it. For it seems to have been by especial providence that this change has been made and acknowledged all over the Christian world.—Com. on Matt. xii, 8. RICHARD WATSON.—Now, though there is not on record any divine command issued to the apostles, to change the Sabbath from the day on which it was held by the Jews, to the first day of the week; yet, when we see that this was done in the apostles' age, and that St. Paul speaks of the Jewish Sabbaths as not being obligatory upon Christians, while he yet contends that the whole moral law is obligatory upon them; the fair inference is, that this change of the day was made by divine direction.—Theological Institutes. TESTIMONY SUMMED UP.—It is fair to judge every denomination by their own writers and standard authors. 1. The discipline teaches "that whatsoever is not read in the Scriptures nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man; that it should be believed," &c. 2. That the moral law of ten commandments are binding, and in that the seventh day, or Saturday, is the Sabbath. 3. And inasmuch as they cannot read Sunday keeping in the Bible, nor prove it thereby, ought not Methodists to keep the Sabbath? 4. It is said in the address that "the day of the Lord" in the general Rules of the Discipline is in perfect accordance with the Scriptures. 5. That labor is done on the Sabbath which certainly ought not to have been omitted on Saturday. 6. Adam Clarke says, "The change of the Jewish into the Christian Sabbath, called the Lord's day," &c.—Rev. i, 10. 7. Richard Watson says, "Now though there is not on record any divine command issued to the apostles, to change the Sabbath from the day on which it was held by the Jews, to the first day of the week, yet the fair inference is, that this change of day was made by divine direction." 8. If Sabbath-keepers had no better authority for keeping the seventh day than Methodists have for keeping the first day, think you they would keep it long? No divine command, and an inference drawn from Roman Catholic traditions and early heathen customs!