It is truly painful to see those who are esteemed, and in some respects appear to be the wisest and best of men, often misleading their fellow men in matters of vital importance, and which are so plain that we cannot frame an excuse for them, especially when they are men of long study and close observation. An instance of this kind has been pointed out in Dr. Edwards' Sabbath Manual, where the Jews are made to observe Sunday during the siege of Jerusalem!
Another instance equally unpardonable and to me still more strange, is found in the "Cause and Cure of Infidelity." Dr. Nelson was a thinker, a reasoner, and a close observer; therefore we find no way to excuse the following remark:
"The Israelites, in reckoning their time, made use of two kinds of weeks, very different in duration, but the same in parts, commencement, and termination. They used the week so well known with us, seven days in extent, and commencing with a Sabbath of one day, or twenty-four hours."
With the Israelites the days of the week were only known by their order, first-day, second-day, &c., and according to the above extract the week commenced with the seventh day! Now the Dr. knew that the seventh day of the week, not the first day, was the Sabbath; and his statement is no more just nor reasonable than it would be to say that in a family of seven children the youngest child was the first.
This is the manner in which the minds of the young are trained to believe that the first-day was and is the Sabbath. Truly this is a pious fraud worthy only of the Jesuits. A good cause will never use them.