The Sabbath was Abolished
By Editor
IF ever the opposers of the Sabbath of the Lord shall agree upon anything in favor of their theories, we shall hasten to record it, and perhaps be able to fill out the blank in the head of this article, at least to their satisfaction. We cannot possibly do it at present, for, although they are positive and well agreed in their belief that the Sabbath was changed, abolished, superseded, or left indefinite, at some time and by some authority, they are not at all agreed as to the time when, the manner, the means, or the persons, by which, this change or something else was effected. We have been authoritatively informed that the Sabbath was abolished by the early church (see Eusebius), by the apostles in their letters, on the day of pentecost, at the resurrection of Jesus, at the time of his temptation and conversation with Satan, at his baptism, and by the preaching of John the Baptist. We had supposed that if it did not receive its death blow in some of these many assaults, it would be suffered to live in peace. But it appears that the root of the matter remained to be struck. We have miscalculated—not the resources of the opposers of the Sabbath, for these are easily measured, but—the fertility of their imaginations. The "latest returns" on this subject may be found in Messiah's Herald, Boston, in a communication from Mr. B. D. Haskell. The following paragraphs develop this theory:— "The tables of stone containing the law of Sinai were in the ark in the time of Solomon, but nothing definite is known of either the ark or its contents since the reign of Manasseh, B. C. 646. The covenant Jehovah made with Israel, of which the Hebrew Sabbath was the sign,—was abrogated during the reign of this fearfully wicked prince. See 2 Kings 24:3, 4, and 2 Chron. 36:15-17. The covenant being abrogated, the sign or affix went with the instrument. "After the return from Babylon the seventh-day rest was observed, but not specifically enjoined." It seems hardly necessary to call the attention of any reader to the fact that the texts cited have no relation whatever to the abrogation of any covenant. What was peculiar to the covenant with Israel that passed away, was nailed to the cross of Messiah. If the authority of the Sabbath ceased in the days of Manasseh, on what authority, precept, or Scripture rests the "Christian Sabbath?" But we will not ask questions uselessly, knowing that we will never get a definite answer. It every day becomes more evident that the opposers of the Sabbath of the Lord are not only much confused, but greatly troubled to find plausible pretexts wherewith to help the failing cause of the Roman Sun-day.