A New Argument for Sunday-keeping.
By A. C. Bourdeau
It often happens, that, when we present clear and unmistakable arguments, enforcing the obligations of the fourth commandment, and showing that the claims which are generally urged for Sunday-keeping, have no foundation in the Scriptures, we are accosted by Sunday advocates, who are ever contending for new arguments which do not, in any possible manner, go toward establishing their darling institution. But I will here present a new argument for Sunday-keeping, which has proved to be effectual in one case, at least, as may be seen in the following circumstances, which occurred a short distance from here: About three years ago a Methodist class-leader in the town of —, commenced to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. His Methodist friends often called to see him, and with his companion and neighbors, were almost incessantly trying to lay obstacles in his way, to hinder him from keeping the Sabbath. Finally he was visited by a preacher who addressed him as follows: "Dear brother, I cannot let you go. If you keep Saturday I must keep it also. . . . But before we come to any conclusion in regard to this subject, let us go and pray on yonder hill." They accordingly went on a hill, and before praying the preacher suggested to decide in regard to which day was the Sabbath by the amount of feeling they would have while praying!! To this the class-leader consented. The preacher was naturally boisterous, while the class-leader was timid, and of few words. And we have reason to believe that there was quite a jargon, while one prayed in favor of Sunday, and the other in favor of the seventh-day Sabbath. The preacher, with his noisy praying, intimidated the class-leader, and prevailed on him to keep Sunday. The reader can readily see that the sum total of this argument is based on feeling. But feeling is not a safe guide, for it varies with circumstances; and those who follow feeling, are in danger of being carried about with every wind of doctrine. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. viii, 20.