The Independent's Sunday Article.
By Editor
THE N. Y. Independent of Nov. 26, 1863, contains a lengthy article on Sunday, in answer to the question, how Sunday came to be observed as the Sabbath of Christendom. Solomon asks, "Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new?" and we feel disposed to respond, Verily, nothing on the Sunday question. The texts quoted by the Independent in favor of Sunday, most any reader of the Review could repeat by anticipation, from memory, if so disposed. We will, however, give them, so that they may all be visible to the naked eye: John xx, 19, 26; Acts ii, 1; xx, 7; 1 Cor. xvi, 2; Rev. i, 10. That is all, and even of these it is conceded that they "do not contain an express injunction;" but somehow they involve inherent strength sufficient to support the vast temple of Christendom's first-day Sabbath. To supply the "express injunction," which the Scriptures lack, the following testimony is then brought in: The epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius to the Magnesians, Neander, Justin Martyr, Clement of Rome, Pliny, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and the council of Laodicea. Include the testimony of these men, and the sacred volume is supposed to be complete! Do not Papists smile with scorn at such a course as this on the part of Protestants? If not, it certainly cannot be because they have not abundant occasion. We only refer to this subject, however, to say to the readers of the Review, if any of them have seen the article under notice, that all the testimony here adduced is thoroughly discussed, and disposed of, in the History of the Sabbath, published at this Office. The texts of scripture quoted are all relieved from the unnatural and insupportable weight placed upon them; the epistle of Barnabas is shown to be a forgery, or as Mosheim expresses it, the "contemptible reverie of a wild and irregular genius;" Ignatius to the Magnesians is also shown to be spurious, or if not, that its testimony relative to the Sabbath is but a fraudulent interpolation; and the character and credulity of the other witnesses are set forth in their true light;—all on good and standard authority, with a reference to "chapter and verse" where the testimony may be found. If any are troubled on the Sabbath question, let them send for the History of the Sabbath, which is an end of all controversy on that subject.