Lessons for Bible Students.
(History of the Sabbath, pp. 147–157.) IN our last lesson we noticed the foundation upon which the Sunday institution is reared. Several texts are employed to build upon this foundation; what is the first of these? What is the argument drawn from this text? What is the defect in this argument? On what day of the week was his last and most important meeting with them? Is the act of the Saviour, therefore, in meeting with his disciples, sufficient to show that any day is sacred? What is a still more serious defect in this argument? How long after the previous meeting, did this meeting take place? And to what day of the week would that necessarily carry us? The meeting mentioned in John xx, 19, may have been on the second day of the week (see note, p. 148); in this case what exact parallel have we to the expression, The same day at even, being the first day of the week? When the Holy Spirit wishes to express just one week, it uses a very different expression from "after eight days;" what is that expression? What texts prove this? Note p. 148. What would the expression, after eight days, naturally imply? What texts throw light on this? Note, p. 148. Give the sum of this argument. What is the next text that enters into the fabric of first-day sacredness? What is the argument deduced from this text? What is the first objection that arises to this deduction? Is there any intimation that the disciples came together on that occasion to celebrate that day? Is there any proof that the Spirit was poured out in honor of the first day of the week?189Why was there nothing unusual in their being convened on that occasion? If the sacred writer had designed to show that an especial day of the week was honored, would he not have stated the fact and named the day? Is it certain that this occurred on the first day of the week? What distinguished author places it upon the seventh day? Note, p. 150. What was the great event which the Holy Spirit designed to mark? What is the third pillar in the first-day edifice? What is the first and fatal objection to this proposition? Who, then, knows it to be true? What considerations show that the purpose of redemption was contained in that of creation? Can it be affirmed, then, that redemption is greater than creation? Assuming for argument's sake that redemption is greater than creation, who knows that a day should be set apart for its commemoration? But granting that a day should be set apart for this purpose, what day should have the preference? Is redemption yet finished? What shows that it is not? What considerations prove that if a day is to be set apart to commemorate this work, it should be the day of the crucifixion and not the day of the resurrection? Has not the Holy Spirit taken care that the event of both the crucifixion and resurrection should have an appropriate memorial? Is there any necessity, then, for changing the Sabbath for this purpose? What is the memorial of the crucifixion? What is the memorial of the resurrection? Was it the day of the crucifixion or resurrection that in either case has been thought worthy of commemoration? What are the great events which lie at the foundation of our redemption? Has each one of these its appropriate memorial? But what importance have the sacred writers attached to the days of their occurrence? What is it that has furnished so plausible a plea for first-day observance, in memory of the resurrection? What facts should exist to render first-day observance a proper memorial of redemption? Do any of these facts exist? On the contrary, what is true? What constitutes the fourth pillar in the first-day temple? Those who argue this text have to assume the very points this text is supposed to prove; what are those points? To the first of these extraordinary assumptions, what is the proper reply? When did the Saviour assume the position of "head of the corner"? How is the second assumption disproved? What about the third assumption? The passage in Ps. cxviii has reference to the opening of the gospel dispensation; can it, therefore, refer to any one day of the week? In what text does our Lord use the word day in a similar manner? What, then, was the condition of the Sabbath at the opening of the great work of the gospel to the Gentiles?