Lessons for Bible Students.
(History of the Sabbath, pp. 92–103.) When we leave the books of Moses, what do we find in regard to the history of the Sabbath? Is any mention of it found in Joshua? In first and second Samuel? In the first book of Kings? In what book and in what chapter and verse does the next mention of the Sabbath occur? With what history are the books of Chronicles parallel as a narrative? Is the Sabbath mentioned in these books and where? [In point of chronology this is the same as if it had been mentioned in the book of Samuel.] How long a space does this leave without any mention of the Sabbath? What kind of a history of the Hebrew people, have we during this time? Mention a favorite argument with anti-Sabbatarians. If the silence of one book, which, after giving the institution of the Sabbath, in its general history of twenty-five hundred years, does not again mention it, proves its total neglect during that time, what may be said of the silence of six successive books, which give a minute history of the period which they cover? But the Sabbath during this time was enforced by the penalty of death, and can such an argument as this be adduced to prove that it was neglected? And as this is a much better argument than that based on the silence of Genesis respecting the Sabbath, what becomes of that argument? In the history of these five centuries from Moses to David, several facts are recorded, which claim our notice; what is the first of these? State how the siege of Jericho was conducted. One of these seven days must have been the Sabbath; then did not the children of Israel here break the Sabbath? If not, why? What is Dr. Clarke's testimony on this point? The second fact worthy of notice is the sun's standing still in the days of Joshua; did not this great miracle derange the Sabbath? and why? What difficulty does this miracle involve, to the seventh-part-of-time theory? A third notable case is the act of David in eating the show-bread, mentioned in 1 Sam. xxi, 1–6; upon what day in all probability, did this transaction take place? What distinction may here be pointed out, which should never be lost sight of? p. 98 first paragraph. While these rites were in force with what did they necessarily to some extent connect the Sabbath? When the ceremonial law was abolished, what effect, then, did it have upon the Sabbath? From the days of David how long a time elapses without a mention of the Sabbath? In the days of Elisha, what mention have we of the Sabbath, and in what scripture is it recorded? What renders it probable that the Sabbath of the Lord is here intended? If this is correct, what does it show? What does Amos give as the language of the people in regard to the Sabbath in his day? When were these words written? How long after this, before another mention of the Sabbath is found? In what year did Isaiah utter a forcible prophecy in reference to the Sabbath? In what chapter of his book is it found? This prophecy contains several features of peculiar interest; what is the first one? What is meant by the salvation of God, and when is it to come? p. 101, note. What does the prophecy show in the second place? What is the third point worthy of note? Fourth, to what conclusion are we led? In chapter lviii, 13, 14, Isaiah again presents the Sabbath; from what does his language here emphatically distinguish it? To what does the promise contained in this prophecy, have reference?