[Among the various "inventions" which men are from time to time "seeking out," we occasionally find additional reasons for the change of the Sabbath, and for Sunday-keeping. We propose to lay these before our readers as fast as they are made known. The following article we copy from a writer in the Advent Herald, of June 16th, 1856, but if any of our readers are able to appreciate the force of the argument, and tell us what it means, we should be happy to have them report it, and we will notice it again. ED. REVIEW.]
The wave-sheaf typical of a change of the day. There were two types significant of a change of the day in the observance of the weekly Sabbath. 1. The wave-sheaf. 2. The two wave-loaves. The annual offering of the one was at the commencement of harvest, of the other at the close of harvest, and seven weeks apart.
1. The wave-sheaf was not typical of the resurrection of Christ, but the day on which it was offered foreshadowed a change of the day for the weekly rest. The usual argument for changing the observance of the weekly Sabbath from the seventh to the first day, is founded on the fact of the resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week, and its commemoration by apostles and early Christians. This we say, is the usual argument. But behind this there was an absolute necessity for Christ to rise from the dead on the first day of the week; he could not have risen on any other day. Annually the wave-sheaf was to be offered by the priest about the time of the earing of the barley. The paschal lamb was to be offered on the fourteenth day of the first month, and the wave-sheaf not on any particular day of the month, but always "on the morrow after the Sabbath" of passover week. The fourteenth day of the month would move through all the days of the week, but the "wave-sheaf" as well as the two "wave-loaves," were ever stationary, on "the morrow after the Sabbath." The passover was stationary as to the day of the moon, but the wave-sheaf, and wave-loaves as to the day of the week. "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you; on the morrow after the Sabbath shall he wave it." Lev. xxiii, 10, 11. "And ye shall eat neither bread nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the self-same day that ye have brought an offering unto your God." Lev. v, 14. That is, this was to be done before breakfast, early in the morning, before any food was tasted. It may be remarked, that barley, in Egypt where the passover was instituted, would be more forward on the fourteenth day of the month than in Canaan, and more forward in some localities of Canaan than others—in the valley of the Jordan, than about Jerusalem, elevated three thousand feet above that river.
The wave-sheaf, the new grain from the old kernel that had perished, was one of the most striking and impressive emblems of the resurrection that could possibly be presented to the eye or the mind of man. The Jews may have had but a slim idea of its import. It was beautiful as it was striking. Christ was the bread of life that came down from heaven. "Now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept." He fulfilled the type of the wave-sheaf with great exactness, not only as to the day of the week, "the morrow after the Sabbath," but as to the hour of the day. "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, . . . and they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus." Luke xxiv, 1, 3.
2. The two wave-loaves is still another type of great significance, intimating a change of the day to come. This is called the feast of Pentecost, and always occurred on "the morrow after the Sabbath." "And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering, seven sabbaths shall be completed, even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath, shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat-offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave-loaves; they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baken with leaven; they are the first-fruits unto the Lord. And ye shall proclaim on the self-same day that it may be a holy convocation unto you; ye shall do no servile work therein." Lev. xxiii, 15-17, 21.
This septennial reckoning commenced from the day the wheat-sheaf was offered on the first day of the week, and terminated always on the first day of the week. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire; and it sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts ii, 1, 3, 4. Here, then, in these two types, observed for long ages annually, seven weeks apart, we have evidently, the mind of God as to a change of the day for observing the weekly rest, so striking and impressive as to have all the force of a positive enactment and precept. Who is not deeply affected by their transcendent meaning?
A. PENFIELD.
Cleveland, O., June 16th, 1856.
The Christian's Life.
By Gurnall
From his conversion till his natural death the Christian's life is a continual wrestling; from the hour when he first sets his face to heaven, till he shall set his foot in heaven, there is no condition wherein the Christian here below is quiet. Is it prosperity or adversity? Here is work for both hands to keep pride and security down in the one, faith and patience up in the other; and no place which the Christian can call privileged ground. No duty can be performed without wrestling; the Christian needs his sword as much as his trowel. He wrestles with a body of flesh; he cannot go on his journey without it, and much ado to go with it. If the flesh be kept high, then it is wanton and will not obey; if low, then it is weak, and soon tires. He wrestles with a body of sin; this mutters and murmurs when the soul is taking up any duty; sometimes keeps him from duty. It is true indeed, grace sways the sceptre in such a soul; yet the unregenerate part takes advantage when grace is not on its watch to disturb its government, and shut it out from duty; and when it cannot shut from duty, yet then is the Christian wofully yoked with it in duty. Thus we see the Christian is assailed on every side by his enemy; and how can it be otherwise, when the seeds of war are laid deep in the natures of both, which can never be rooted up till the devil ceases to be a devil, sin to be sin, and the saint to be a saint? Sin will lust against grace, and grace draw upon sin whenever they meet.
Select Sentences from Cecil.
Our troubles arise not from our living in the world, but from the world living in us.
Never expect much of the joy of the Holy Ghost if your heart and mind be occupied in the enjoyment of sense. The joy of the Spirit is a delicate, sacred deposit; and must be kept in a pure casket. An unholy breath will dim its lusture, and fade its freshness. The joys of sense, even the most lawful of them, are agitating, tumultuous and unsatisfactory.128
The joy of the Spirit is calming, modest, strengthening, elevating and satisfying. The joys of sense at the best, enervate, lower and impoverish the soul. The joys of the Spirit ennoble and enrich it.
Faith and hope give wings to the soul. We often call for the wings of a dove to fly away, because we want to be out of our place; to be somewhere else, in order to be more happy. But this arises from impatience. True faith and hope will make us happy anywhere, and enable us like Paul and Silas, to sing in a prison.
There is experience as well as doctrine to be taught in the school of Christ. We are to be brought out of nature and taught to walk with God; and this is effected not only by the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, but also by wholesome corrections.
The Sacred, Precious Stones.
By Stuart
"AND the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of precious stone: the first foundation-stone was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald." Rev. xxi, 19.
The word "adorned" may raise a doubt here, whether the writer means to say, that into the various courses of the foundation, ornamental, precious stones were only here and there inserted. But taking the whole description together, I do not apprehend this to have been his meaning. Jasper, as we have seen above, is usually a stone of green, transparent color, with red veins. But there are many varieties. Sapphire is of a beautiful azure or sky-blue color, almost as transparent and glittering as a diamond. Chalcedony seems to be a species of the agate, or more probably the onyx. The onyx of the ancients was probably of a bluish white, and semi-pelucid. The emerald was of a vivid green, and next to the ruby in hardness.
"The fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolithe, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysopras, the eleventh hyacinth, the twelfth amethyst," Verse 20.
Sardonyx is a mixture of chalcedony and cornelian, which last is of a flesh color. Sardius is probably the cornelian; sometimes, however, the red is quite vivid. Chrysolithe, as its name imports, is of a yellow or gold color, and is pelucid. From this was probably taken the conception of the pelucid gold, which constitutes the material of the city. Beryl is of a sea-green color. The topaz of the present day seems to be reckoned as yellow; but that of the ancients appears to have been pale green. Plin. 38, 8. Bellermann, Urim et Thummim, p. 37. Chrysopras of a pale yellow and greenish color, like a scallion; sometimes it is classed at the present day under topaz. Hyacinth of a deep red or violet color. Amethyst, a gem of great hardness and brilliancy, of a violet color, and usually found in India.
In looking over these various classes we find the first four to be of a green or bluish cast; the fifth and sixth, of a red or scarlet; the seventh, yellow; the eighth, ninth and tenth, of different shades of the lighter green; the eleventh and twelfth, of a scarlet, or splendid red. There is classification, therefore, in this arrangement; a mixture not dissimilar to the arrangement in the rainbow, with the exception that it is more complex.—Stuart.
Pray without Ceasing.
WHAT Christian will not be pleased with the following practical exposition of the text, "Pray without ceasing." We admire its brevity and simplicity. To us, it has been as good as a sermon.
A number of ministers were assembled for the discussion of difficult questions, and among others, it was asked how the command, Pray without ceasing, could be complied with. Various suppositions were stated, and at length one of the number was appointed to write upon the subject, and read it at the next meeting, which being overheard by a plain, sensible girl, she exclaimed:
"What, a whole month wanted to tell the meaning of that text? It is one of the easiest and best texts in the whole Bible."
"Well," said an old minister, "Mary, what can you say about it? can you pray all the time?"
"O yes, sir."
"What, when you have so many things to do?"
"Why, sir, the more I have to do the more I can pray."
"Indeed, Mary, let us know how it is, for most people think otherwise."
"Well, sir, when I first open my eyes in the morning, I pray, Lord, open the eyes of my understanding, to behold wondrous things out of thy law. And while I am washing, I pray that my soul may be washed and sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. And while I am dressing, I pray that my heart may be clothed with humility. And as I begin my work, I pray that I may have strength unto my day. When I begin to kindle the fire, I pray that the love of God may burn in my heart. And as I sweep out the house, I pray that my heart may be cleansed from all impurity. And while I am preparing and partaking of breakfast, I desire to be fed with the hidden manna, and sincere milk of the word. And when I am busy with the children, I look up to God as my Father, and pray for the spirit of adoption; and that I may be his child. And so all the day, everything I do furnishes me with something for prayer."
Letter from Bro. Sperry.
By C. W. Sperry
Bro. Smith:—I feel that we are living in a solemn time, when every day is bringing increasing obligations; when all heaven is engaged in our salvation; when God is gathering his armies together and preparing them for the last great battle; when God is calling loudly upon his people to flee the world’s vain pleasures, customs, fashions, maxims and honors, and put on the garments of righteousness, adorning themselves after a godly manner.
We want more of the fear of God, the love of his truth and a more vivid sense of the scenes before us, to rise above the attractions of earth. The claims of our friends and the world have more weight upon us, many times than the claims of God. If it were not so, there would be more fruit unto holiness. There is too much of a grudging submission to the will of God; that is, we sacrifice more because we are obliged to, than because we love to. It is the “willing and the obedient” that shall eat the good of the land.
If we give all our goods to feed the poor, and our bodies to be burned, and do not do it in love, it will profit us nothing. Oh! what a transforming there must be in our minds to do the perfect will of God! What a close watchfulness we must have to keep this truth from leaking out of our hearts! Vain and trifling conversation, idle words, jesting and joking, will readily open a way for the Spirit of the truth to vanish from us. We must deny ourselves of all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly and righteously.
While God has angels who are commissioned to watch over his children for good, I believe there are evil angels also who are in these days basely engaged to destroy us if they can; and God permits them for our chastisement. While we are in the antitype of ancient Israel, should we not do well to remember and lay it to heart how God dealt with them; and the little light they had compared to the light we have in these last days. What a fearful position we occupy! lest while we are desiring so many of the comforts of this world, we may be left to our own desires and the wrath of God come upon us. Oh, what an unwillingness to yield to be what the Lord wants us to be! If we do not die daily unto this world and self, it makes it very hard to die at all. The Lord help us to search ourselves more closely and not let the straitness of the way slip from our minds, is my fervent prayer.
I have for the last twelve weeks visited a few of the counties in this State, laboring in some new fields. I have been encouraged whilst I see that the Lord is searching out his people, and laying judgment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, and also bringing some more to the knowledge of the truth.
While laboring in one new field, and presenting the subject of the Sabbath, two ministers were present and one arose at the close of my remarks and said: "Next Sabbath (meaning Sunday) he would show the other side of the picture," (which proved to be the blank side) at which time he read two sermons which he adopted from President Dwight who said that God never blessed any day, but blessed the Sabbath institution, and left man to apply that institution to any day he pleased. And from this position argues for a change at the ushering in of the Christian dispensation; not by any divine command, but by apostolic example; and adds that Christ designed to have it changed; for proof of which he quoted Matt. ix, 14, 15.
Many of his hearers remarked that they expected he would bring some plausible arguments, if no divine command; but all was so destitute of scripture and reason they acknowledged we had the truth. I am thankful that the truth is so plain that little minds can see it, while it takes the large minds to see round it, and yet they cannot explain it away.
I met the tent in this place for the first time this season, which was pitched by Bro. Buck one week before I arrived, and has stood in the same place two weeks since. At the close of the meeting on the second First-day, while a good congregation was in the tent we requested them, if they wished us to tarry another week, to manifest it by rising, at which nearly all quickly arose; so we remained, holding meetings in the evenings at private houses during week days with interest to some. The last Sabbath we had a refreshing time with the saints during the day, but especially so in the evening after the Sabbath, while attending to the ordinances of the church. On last First-day our number was not so large because of heavy rain. Some resolved to walk in the truth, while others are deeply convicted.
Yours hoping to be purified by obeying the truth.
C. W. SPERRY.
Greenfield, N. Y., Aug 5th, 1856.
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Light in Darkness
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The Fourth of March Not Correct
By Editor
NOT CORRECT.—The item which we gave a few weeks since on the authority of the Rural New Yorker, headed, "The Fourth of March—why selected," in which it was claimed that that day was chosen for the inauguration of the President of the United States, because it could not fall on a Sunday for three hundred years from the first inauguration, and which the New Yorker cited as showing the "great regard which the framers of our government had for the Sabbath," it appears is not correct, the following being the facts in the case:
Every day of every month falls on each day of the week four times in each successive cycle of twenty-eight years. At the second inauguration of Monroe in 1821, and that of Gen. Taylor in 1849, the fourth of March came on Sunday, and the inauguration had to be deferred to Monday.
It appears therefore that the framers of our government had not so "great a regard" for the "Sabbath" after all.
APPOINTMENTS.
By John Norton Loughborough; William S. Ingraham
PROVIDENCE permitting, there will be a tent-meeting in South Barre, Orleans Co., N. Y., where Brn. Smith, Paine and others shall appoint, commencing Sabbath Sept. 13th, and hold over First-day. As this is the only meeting we intend holding in Western N. Y., it is hoped there will be a good attendance of brethren and sisters. Let those who can, bring provision to sustain themselves.
Also a tent-meeting will be held in Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y., commencing Sabbath, Sept. 20th, and hold over First-day.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
WM. S. INGRAHAM.
Tent Meeting at Princeton
By E. L. Barr; A. S. Hutchins
PROVIDENCE permitting, there will be a Tent Meeting at Princeton, Mass., commencing Sept. 5th, at 2 o'clock, P. M., and continuing as long as duty requires.
As this is probably the only general meeting for the Church that can be held this season in connection with the Tent, we hope to see a goodly number of the brethren and sisters present. And for the relief of the few Brn. here, we hope the brethren and sisters will come prepared to supply themselves with provision and bedding as far as convenient. Come, brethren and sisters, prepared to labor for the Lord.
E. L. BARR.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
TESTIMONY FOR THE CHURCH, No. 2.—I send out a quantity of this little Tract of 16 pages, post-paid. It is free for all. Those who esteem it a pleasure can assist in the publication of such matter. E. G. White.