Lessons for Bible Students.
(HISTORY OF THE SABBATH, PP. 178-192.) To show that the "stated day" of Pliny's epistle is the first day of the week, what has been done? What is the argument on this point? What two facts are asserted to be established? To prove this, what statement does Dr. Edwards make? What English first-day author uses the same argument? From what work is this statement derived? When was this argument first brought forward? For what purpose was it produced? Is any such question to be found in the Acta Martyrum? Was any such question as this put to the martyrs in Pliny's time? What questions were put to them as late as A. D. 304? p. 220, top. Does the word, Dominicum, as here used, mean Lord's day? What is it used to signify? To sum up the evidence on this point, is there any record of any such question being put to the martyrs in the time of Pliny? Was any such question asked of any martyr prior to the fourth century? How many instances in which any such question was asked can be claimed? And in this instance, what does a correct translation of the original show? All this is upon the supposition that the Acta Martyrum is an authentic work; what does Mosheim give as its true character? ORIGIN OF SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
How ancient is the festival of Sunday? Did it originate from any divine command? From what fact has the first day of the week obtained the name of Sunday? What does the North British Review style that day? What led to the introduction of this heathen festival into the Christian church? [Ans. "Patriotism and expediency." p. 225.] What three reasons does Chasie give why the early Christians should not keep any other day? p. 226. Did the early church pay special regard to any other days besides the Sunday? p. 228, top. What days were thus distinguished at a very early period? How do these days compare in sacredness? What does Domville say of the ecclesiastical writers of the first three centuries? What did "patriotism and expediency" finally do? Who bears the earliest testimony which has any claim to be regarded as genuine? What does Milner say of the works ascribed to Justin Martyr? What do the writings which are ascribed to him really teach relative to the Sabbath? Does he assign any divine precept or apostolical example for the festival of Sunday? p. 232, top. What does the American Tract Society, in a work published against Romanism, say of the authority of Justin as a religious guide? What reasons does Justin assign in support of Sunday observance? To this what does Jeremy Taylor reply? Let it be remembered that this mention of Sunday observance by Justin was written when he was at Rome, and addressed to the emperor; consequently the first trace of Sunday as a Christian festival is found—where? In his dialogue with Trypho, the Jew, does Justin treat the Sabbath as a friend or an opponent? What does the testimony of Justin show, and why? p. 234, first paragraph. Who is the next important witness in regard to first-day sacredness? What are the words of Irenæus relative to the Lord's day? What does Sir William Domville say concerning this quotation? To what authority do those refer who quote this as the language of Irenæus? Where did Dwight obtain this testimony? What is probably the true origin of the quotation? What words of Jesus does this case illustrate? By what kind of an edict did the bishop of Rome make his first attempt to rule the Christian church? Did the other churches accede to the demand of the Roman pontiff? What action did the council of Nice take in this matter? What reasons did Constantine urge for this measure? Who was Tertullian, and when did he write? What does the language of his excuse for Christian Sunday-keepers show? How does Milman speak of Tertullian? Of what is Tertullian's testimony a valuable acknowledgment? What is the earliest authentic instance in which the term Lord's day is applied to the first day of the week? What writers present the first trace of resting from labor on Sunday? According to Tertullian's testimony, how was Sunday observed in his time? What was the first great effort made by the church of Rome to put down the Sabbath? p. 242, top. At what time did the Western church begin to fast on Saturday? What does Neander state as the motive of the Romish church in this thing? What other writers confirm this testimony?