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A PURE LANGUAGE

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 27, 1860

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 17, No. 2.

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A PURE LANGUAGE.

SPEAKING of a time evidently not very remote from the present day, the Lord by the month of the prophet Zephaniah, says, "For then will I turn to the people a pure language." The Psalmist once exclaimed, "It is time for thee, Lord, to work, for they have made void thy law." Is it not also time for the Lord to work for his law in another respect, and turn to the people a pure language when they speak in reference to it?
The language of theology has become impure. A little has been taken from the vocabulary of heaven, and applied to an institution of earth. We see it in all places and at all times. At every turn we meet this theological plagiarism which has insinuated itself into almost all the channels of religious instruction. In sermons, in Advent papers, in religious papers of every kind, how many appointments do we hear and see, for how many Sabbaths. But what do they mean by the term Sabbath? They mean Sunday! What inference, what example, what warrant, what right have they for applying that term to that day? None at all. Is it the usage of heaven? It is not. If people are determined to elevate Sunday into the place of the Sabbath, still they have no right to thus pervert the name.
There are two terms which we insist they have no warrant for thus using; and these are, Sabbath and Lord's day. Let them call their institution anything else they choose. We can think of a great many that would be very appropriate; but when they employ the ones referred to, they "steal the livery of heaven," &c.!
Let the consistent Sabbath-keeper congratulate himself on his position in this respect. When he speaks of the Sabbath he does it understandingly. When he refers to that venerable and hallowed institution, he knows that he refers to an institution which is recognized of Heaven; and he uses the language which Heaven employs. Thank the Lord for beginning to turn to his people a pure language, in respect to his holy Sabbath.