SUNDAY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2327, 10 March 1892, Page 3

SUNDAY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Having read the letters written by “ Orthodox ” to yotir valuable paper, I beg leave for space to state my “ private interpretations ” on the scriptures quoted by that worthy \jriter. The word “ Orthodox ” means “ right opinion,” and I wish to direct public attention to the modesty of “ Orthodox ” in assuming that “ nom de plume.” I thank “ Orthodox ” for the care he takes to prove the importance of acknowledging the Sabbath as the finished work of creation which was blessed and sanctified, and especially for showing its dominion over nature itself; but, fail to see why, in direct contradiction, he should assert that the Sabbath is not held sacred among Christians, without giving any reasonable account for the loss of its sanctity. His first excuse for not keeping Sabbath is because he can’t find that the Hebrews kept it before the time of Moses. I would ask, Wasn’t the great Creator the first who Sabbatised on the seventh day ? and wasn’t the first seventh day of time the day which He thus honored ? If “ Orthodox ” reads Exodus xvi., he will find that the narrative there shows (1) That God had Commandments prior to the giving of manna ; (2) That God designed to prove them respecting his laws ; (3) That when God said “ How long refuse ye to keep the Commandments?” it was the Sabbath woich the Sabbath that the Hebrews had violated ; (4) That when they gathered a double portion of manna on the sixth day they proved, not only that they were disposed to observe it, but that they were well , aware of the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy. “ Orthodox ” asserts that the Hebrews kept the Sabbath as a rest day, without reference to creation. Does not a rest necessarily imply a work performed ? and hence the ’Sabbath w«y a ordained of God as IV memorial 0 f the work of creation-. Further, my friend takes up Colossians ii., 16, 17. Now I would ask him to read verso 14 of the same chapter. How can the Sabbath which was made fur man (Mark, ii., 21) be against him '! Can a thing be for and against I How does “Orthodox” make out the Sabbath to be a, shadow, when Exodus xx., says it was a memorial ? “ Orthodox, like former writers to this paper, surely mixes the Sabbath of the Ceremonial Law with the hallowed Sabbath of God commanded in the Decalogue. Next he quotes Matthew xii., 5,8, Was uo.t the Saviour showing

what labor upon the Sabbath is not a violation of its sanctity ? and is it not reasonable that Christ, in his reference to the priests, was referring to the fact that the priests were required to make new shew bread every Sabbath I (See Leviticus xxiv., 5—9, I. Chronicles ix., 32). Again “Orthodox” says “ The Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath. Now this is really favoring my claim that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Bible, for if the Son of Man was Lord of the Sabbath, He must have been Lord of the seventh day of God’s Commandments, as He has said “ Yea, I delight to do Thy will. Thy law is written within my heart. —Psalms xl., 7, 8. Christ did not keep the Sabbath as a matter of “ consistency,” it was his delight to do so. If, as “ Orthodox ” says, the Sabbath was enforced simply for our good, is it not strange that we should abolish that which is for our own benefit 1 Again “ Orthodox makes the bare statement that the seventh day is not sacred among Christians. Why? Undoubtedly the seventh is the day God has commanded and sanctified. Strange that Christians work hard that day when they can’t show that God has altered his Commandments, nor that Christ instituted a change .' But some cling to the hope that the Commandments are abolished or changed. If abolished, could an abolished law authorise Sunday-keeping ? St. Paul says the law slew him. Could a dead (abolished) law slay him ? or did he slay the law ? If changed, in what particular 1 One part of that law is “ Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Is this not binding on Christians 1 Other parts forbid murder, theft, falsehood, idolatry, and profanity; are these parts not binding on Christians ? Oh, yes ! Pearhaps some correspondent will say “ It was only the fourth Commandment that needed changing.” As I have previously proved from scripture that Christ did not institute first day worship, and that the Commandments (the fourth as well as the rest) are still binding, and as my opponents have failed to bring scripture for the contrary, I shall again claim that the power that has instituted Sunday worship is the Roman Catholic Church, through the works of the great Constantine. Domville says “ Not any ecclesiastical writer of the first three centuries attributed the origin of Sunday observance to Christ or to the Apostles.” (Exam, of the Six Texts, supplement pp. 6,7.) “ Tertullan against Marcion,” book 4, chapter 12, affirms that Christ did not abolish the Sabbath. The following question and answer is sufficient proof that Protestants admit some Roman Catholic doctrines with no better reasons than they deny others. Question : How prove you that the Church has power to command feast and other holy days ? Answer: By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which all Protestants allow of, and therefore they fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday, and breaking most of the feasts commanded by the same Church. (Abridgment of Christian Doctrine, p. 58). Thanking you, Mr Editor, for past and present kindness in publishing, I am, &c., Candid.