Sunday-keeping not a Memorial of Redemption.
By Francis Gould
It is generally believed by professed christians that Sunday-keeping commemorates the great work of redemption. That redemption is a great work, cannot be denied, when we see the wondrous love of God, in giving his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The apostle Paul gives a general description of the work: "Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus ii, 13, 14. The meaning of memorial is to preserve in remembrance, or hold in remembrance, some great event that has taken place, and it is reasonable to suppose that the memorial should always be perfectly adapted to the event which it is designed to commemorate. For example, we will take the ordinance of the passover. God instituted it for a memorial, that the children of Israel should keep in everlasting remembrance, how God with a strong hand led them forth out of the land of Egypt. Now let us look at the word of inspiration, and see how perfectly God has fitted the memorial to the event. They were to commence eating the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at evening; the memorial says, "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at even, thou shalt eat unleavened bread." Ex. xii, 18. "And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes; that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year." xiii, 4-10. Again, I wish to notice another event, the memorial of which falls under our own observation; namely, the declaration of Independance. We understand that our forefathers declared themselves a free and an independant nation on the fourth day of July. And we see old and young, the gray headed man leaning upon his staff, who perhaps has participated in the great struggle for liberty, and the youth (who listens with intense interest and delight, while his grandfather rehearses to him the story of the American revolution,) go up once a year, on the fourth day of July to worship at the shrine of liberty, and to pay due homage to that great event, the declaration of Independance. I think every rational mind can but perceive that to commemorate that event on any day of the month but the fourth, would be inconsistent, because the memorial would not be adapted to the event; but men are far more consistent in transacting business in relation to their political and temporal interests, than they are in transacting business for eternity. I understand that an event must take place before it can be commemorated. To get up a memorial of an event before the event takes place, is absurd; but it is even so with Sunday-keepers. It is true that the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ were the agencies God used to bring in the great work of redemption. And these events have their appropriate memorials. Hear Paul. "For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you; That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." 1 Cor. xi, 23-26. "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." Rom. vi, 3, 4, 5. Here we find God's rule of interpretation which adapts every memorial to the right event, and restores harmony to all its parts. I think there is a great difference between an agency, and the object effected by that agency: so it is with regard to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and redemption. If the great work of redemption has been accomplished, then it follows that the very foundation of the Christian's hope, in reference to his future reward is cut off. Christ, in speaking of the signs that were to precede his coming, says, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke xxi, 28. Says Paul "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now; and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves, groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies." Rom. viii, 22-23. Paul in conversing with his brethren in relation to the gospel of their salvation which they had believed, tells them that they were seated with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession. Eph. i, 14. See also Eph. iv, 30. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." The above texts show conclusively that redemption is yet future, and is to be accomplished at the second coming of Christ. Yes, around this great point cluster the hopes of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles and saints that are now sleeping in Jesus. There looked Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance. There Moses looked, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of reward. There, David is to be satisfied; for there he awakes in Christ's likeness. There Job looked for the set time that God had appointed him, though he waits till his change comes. There Paul looked when he was in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ; which is far better. There the Revelator points, and makes a general application; "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth." Rev. xi, 18. In conclusion I would say, if the ideas I have advanced are correct, then the great plea for First-day (Sabbath) keeping must, "like the baseless fabric of a vision," fall to the ground. I expect in a little way from this that every true saint of God will commemorate the work of redemption. See Rev. xiv, 1. "And I looked and lo, a Lamb stood on mount Zion, and with him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." Verse 3. "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders; and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." The question now arises, what is this new song? "And they sang a new song saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. And hast made us unto our God, kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth." Rev. v, 9, 10. O that I might help swell that holy song! My soul rests not here, my home is in heaven. I sigh for it. God will set his mark upon all those who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. "And shall not God avenge his elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he long bear with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily."