Lessons for Bible Students.
By Editor
LESSONS for the use of Bible-Classes and Sabbath-Schools is a want that has long been felt by churches which have seen fit to make use of these necessary and efficient means of religious instruction. To supply this want, so far as it concerns Bible-Classes, and the higher classes of Sabbath-Schools, it is proposed to give through the Review a series of questions on the different points of present truth, taking the standard publications of the Review Office, as text books, and furnishing enough for one lesson in each paper. It is expected that the Instructor will furnish lessons sufficient for each Sabbath, for the lower classes, and thus the whole ground be covered. We commence in this number with the History of the Sabbath. This is a work which should have more attention than a mere random perusal. A careful study of it will thoroughly instruct any one on the important subject of the Sabbath, in all its branches. Answers to the following questions will be found in this work from pages 9 to 24. To prepare himself, for recitation, the student should so thoroughly study the matter embraced within the pages referred to, as to be able to promptly answer the questions proposed concerning the subjects there introduced. What is time, as distinguished from eternity? From the earliest date in Genesis to the resurrection of the unjust, at the end of the millennium, what period of time is measured off? What marks the commencement of the first week of time? What was accomplished by the Creator's work on the first day? What was done on the second day? What is the firmament and what is its use? What was the third day's work? What was accomplished on the fourth day? How was the seventh day distinguished from the rest? Gen. ii, 2, Reads, And on the seventh day, God ended his work. Did God perform any labor on the seventh day? What is the genuine reading of this passage? See page 13, note. As God rested upon the seventh day of the week, what did that day thus become? But the Creator fainteth not, neither is weary, Isa. xl, 28, why then did he rest on the seventh day? Having rested upon the seventh day, what was the second act of God concerning it? Why did he bless and sanctify that day? What third great act completed the sacred institution? What is the meaning of the word sanctify? When was the first of these three great acts performed? On what day were the second and third acts performed? To what then did the blessing and sanctification of the seventh day relate? How are the days of the week measured off? To whom were they given to use? In order to set apart one of these days to a holy use, what must be done? What is Gesenius' definition of the Hebrew verb kadash, rendered in our version to sanctify? Give some instances of its use. Where is found the most striking illustration of the use of this word? What, then, was it to sanctify the Sabbath in Eden? In the light of these facts is it correct to say that there was no command given for the observance of the Sabbath prior to the giving of the law on Sinai? What does the term Sabbath signify? To what time and event does the fourth commandment point back for the origin of its obligation? Where is the next mention of the Sabbath after the book of Genesis? Did Moses do anything to the seventh day in the wilderness to make it the rest-day of Jehovah? Had anything been done, up to this time, since the acts recorded in Gen. ii, 2, 3, to make the seventh day the Sabbath? What conclusion follows from these facts? What is the testimony of our Lord relative to the origin and design of the Sabbath? What renders the original of his language peculiarly emphatic? and why? God first made the Sabbath his, by solemn appropriation; why did he do this? What reasons can be given to show that Gen. ii, 2, 3, is a record of what took place at the close of the creation week, not something spoken by anticipation? Did God sanctify the Sabbath in the wilderness of Sin? How is the Sabbath there mentioned? Why does the Sabbath commandment commence with the word, Remember? What gives especial importance to this memorial? What is the observance of the Sabbath on our part? What would have saved the world from atheism and idolatry?