THE view taken by Neander in his Ecclesiastical History, Vol. 1, page 294, if I understand him—and if I don't, I hope some one will correct me—is this: The Old Testament law of the Sabbath, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, &c. . . . for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it," [Ex. xx, 8-11,] is the New Testament law "to keep holy the entire life, as a life consecrated every day alike to God," expressed I suppose in some such language as the following: "Be ye holy"—"Pray without ceasing"—"Rejoice always"—"Do all things without murmurings and disputings that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life," &c.
The idea of constancy is either expressed or understood in all these affirmations. Fidelity unto death, every day alike is the principle. Now I am most ready to believe and embrace all that is expressed or implied in these and many other like expressions and that the New Testament—nor do I know that this sentiment is peculiar to the New Testament, I believe the same is most amply inculcated in the Old—imposes upon us the obligation to glorify God daily in our bodies and spirits I do most fully believe; but that this is the ultimate resolution of the old original law of the Sabbath, I shall be most slow to believe. I demand testimony.
That all may see that I do not misrepresent the celebrated Neander I will give his language. It is this: "In the New Testament fulfillment, i. e., the keeping holy of the entire life as a life consecrated every day alike to God, the Old Testament law of the Sabbath must find its resolution." Now what is this but saying that the Old Testament law of the Sabbath as quoted above, is the New Testament law to live daily to the honor and glory of God. That is to say, that law which in the Old Testament ordains that we keep holy the Sabbath day, which is the seventh or last day of the week, in the New Testament ordains that we keep holy every day of the week; not only seventh and first day, but every other day. Neander then would maintain, and did, I presume, that every day was the Sabbath, every day was the Lord's Rest-day; and if this be so, where were the Lord's working days, and where are ours? For the Old Testament law of the Sabbath not only ordains that we "Remember the Sabbath day" to keep it holy but positively forbids all labor on that day; and if in the New Testament this same law is so far amplified as to embrace every day of the week—a thing impossible in the very nature of the case—then it must exclude all labor, and we are doomed to perish, or be supported by a miracle. Such is the absurdity of trying to reconcile what is positively irreconcilable, the law of the Sabbath with the keeping of the first day of the week, or any other day but the seventh day. In truth Neander was a no-Sabbath man. He did not believe that under the New or Gospel dispensation, any one day was more holy than another. This must be so, by virtue of the quotation already given. But lest some may doubt, I will give another, same page as above, 294.
"Not barely the observance of Jewish feasts, but all forms and modes of particularizing the christian life by reference to certain times, is reprobated by the apostle Paul, as a Jewish practice, a descent to servile dependence on the elements of the world." This is a remarkable passage—Sunday-keeping, is "a Jewish practice," because it is one of the modes "of particularizing the christian life," a thing, according to the above, "reprobated by the apostle Paul as a Jewish practice." I wonder if Sunday, or First-day keepers, who make so much of Neander, understand all this.40Now the position which I once held, was precisely this with some modifications, though I held it independent of Neander; for I did not then know what Neander's position was. I was driven to this from a serious conviction of the absurdity of all the arguments favoring a change of the day, and from an equally serious conviction, that the keeping of the first day was legitimate as a conventional arrangement, believing that the old Sabbath law was abrogated. But the contrary of all this, is the solid truth of God's holy Word. The Sabbath law of the Old Testament has not been, in the New, resolved into the law of a holy life; neither has it been abrogated; universal Protestantism affirms this. Nor does it begin with indefiniteness and end in definiteness, as all those say who affirm that it only decrees that we keep holy a seventh part of our time indefinite, while they always fasten it upon the First-day, definite. As well might they resolve the finite into the infinite, the particular into the general, as to have the indefinite end in the definite. An indefinite law must eternally remain such. It can never decree the definite. But the Sabbath law is definite and beyond equivocation—it lacks nothing. And better by far had it been for all the world that they obeyed it.
"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, &c. . . . but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work." Amen. Even so let it be.
A Testimony of Sabbath Faith
By Julius I. Bostwick
From Bro. Bostwick.
BRO. SMITH:—I trust we are striving for that heavenly inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, and which is held in reserve for those who keep the Commandments of God, and by a patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and immortality.
It is now a little more than two years since I with my family embraced the Sabbath of the Lord. Although it was at first revolting to my mind to keep a different day from the one my neighbors kept, and to be considered odd, I have since been led to rejoice that we have a mark whereby we may be distinguished from the world at large; and I truly feel thankful to God, who has through the instrumentality and earnest solicitation of a dear brother shown me the truth.
There are none others in our immediate neighborhood that keep the Sabbath. We meet on the Sabbath with the brethren at Greenvale, where we have reason to believe that we enjoy the presence of the Lord.
We, as a church, are far from being exempt from trials. We have experienced the efforts of the "adversary" to divide and destroy us; but our trust is in God, and we have reason to hope that by his assistance we may be able to outride the storm of affliction and come off conquerors through Him who hath loved us, and gave his life a ransom for us.
Yours in hope of eternal life.
JULIUS I. BOSTWICK.
Stockton, Ills., May 1856.
COMMUNICATIONS.
By B. F. Colvin
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another"
From Bro. Colvin.
I PRAISE the Lord that he ever caused me to see the present truth. I firmly believe that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is, and will be a testing truth while time lasts, and that all of God's chosen people will soon become one in faith and practice. I believe that the kingdoms of this world are by the gift of the Father already become the kingdoms of Jesus; that Christ will soon leave the Most Holy Place in which he now ministers for the justification of his people. I am looking for the wrath of God to be poured out upon the wicked and rebellious of this world, in the seven last plagues mentioned in Revelation xvi.
The nations are angry, men have invented and are inventing and bringing into use weapons of the most destructive nature, calculated to destroy men by scores and thousands. But while wickedness reigns in most every form, and a fallen church are trying to palm off for truth the commandments of men, and are defacing the truth of God in various ways, God has got a people that are waiting for Christ's second advent, and are keeping the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus; and are holding up to view the last message of mercy to a guilty and fallen world; that men may seek pardon for breaking God's holy law, have faith in Christ, and be saved when he shall appear.
I believe the work is of God and will succeed. The cause is rising. Praise the Lord!
B. F. COLVIN.
Potter Co., Penn.
Increasing Reverence for Sunday
By Editor
The Presb. Banner and Advocate, thus discourses on the increasing regard for the Sabbath, by which we are probably to understand Sunday.
"There are, both in England and in our own country, signs of an increasing regard for the Sabbath. Within a short time some of our most important railroads have ceased to run their carriages on that holy day. In our cities, the disregard of the Sabbath by our emigrant population is regarded with increasing disapprobation by the majority of citizens, and the efforts that have been made to execute laws restraining vice and labor on that day, have met with unexpected favor. This increasing regard for the Sabbath is one of the most encouraging signs of the times."
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
THERE will be a General Conference at Battle Creek, Mich., to commence Sixth-day, May 23d at 3 o'clock P. M., and hold over Sabbath and First-day.
A Business meeting will be held on Second-day, the 26th, when the Church Book Fund, Tent enterprise and the wants of the cause at large will be taken into consideration. A general attendance from Michigan, and a full delegation from other States and from Canada is solicited. The Church at Battle Creek will entertain all who come for the worship of God, according to their best ability. Churches abroad will meet the expenses of those they send as delegates.
Come, Brethren, let this be indeed a General Meeting, at which there shall be a general interest as well as attendance. Come prepared to engage in the worship of God, and to work for the spread of Bible Truth, and the advancement of the cause.
In behalf of the Battle Creek Church.
J. B. FRISBIE.
JAMES WHITE.
Conference at Canaan, Me.
By E. L. Barr
THERE will be a general Conference at Canaan, Me., commencing sixth-day, June 6th, at 1 o'clock P. M., and continue over the Sabbath and First-day. We would invite the dear saints that love the Lord, his truth, and his people, to make an extra effort to come to this Conference; for your help is greatly needed. Remember the truth is destined to triumph, though earth and hell oppose; and as soon as the people all have a mind to work, the work will go forward. Come, then, prepared to work for God and the upbuilding of his blessed cause. E. L. BARR.
P. S. I wish to say to Bro. Wm. Bates, and the lovers of truth in Connecticut, that if the Lord does not send any one else to visit those new places, I will make an effort thus to do as soon as my work is done in this State. E. L. B.
Spiritualism
SPIRITUALISM.—Mr. S. G. Finney says:—
"The Catholic Church is a stupendous wrong—a gigantic iniquity; it is the mother of ignorance, superstition, bigotry and intolerance. The Protestant church was a step in advance, but it would fail to accomplish any great purpose, because it is not firmly established upon a true principle. It is confined in its views, concentrated in its principles, and bigoted in its Christianity. And the speaker held that there must be another and a truer religion. The demand for such existed, and he thought it was answered, the want supplied, by 'Harmonial Philosophy,' of which he is an advocate."
A MEMORABLE YEAR.
During 1855, there were seventy-three battles fought, or more than one a week, with an average loss of a thousand men killed in each, excluding those who have fallen by disease or in skirmishes, those who died in the hospital or the ambulance, the wounded and disabled, the maimed, missing, and prisoners. As the number left dead upon the field is usually only about one-fourth the entire loss in a battle, the number swept out of existence must have been about 300,000,—the bloodiest year since that in which the battle of Waterloo occurred.
The Growth of Spiritualism
Of Spiritualism, the "Christian Spiritualist" says:—"That its ranks are filled by millions of believers, and already number more than half of all the different denominations of Christians in this nation."
The Spiritual Telegraph Enlarged
By Editor
The Spiritual Telegraph, published at 342 Broadway, New York, commences its fifth volume, under a new form, enlarged in size, and improved in appearance.
Terms, $2 per annum, in advance. A good index of the progress of Spiritism is the prosperity of its numerous Journals.
Receipts for Book Fund.
By Editor
[As fast as the pledges are paid, or money for the fund forwarded independent of the pledges, we intend to receipt it in the REVIEW, that those sending may know if it is safely received.]
Chas. Andrews, A. A. Dodge, each $5. C. M., $4. M. G. Kellogg, B. M. Adams, Mrs. H. Smith, each $2. N. A. Scripture, $0.50.
Business.
By Editor
J. Alexander:—You are receipted $1 in No. 2.
Sr. B. Ingalls:—Your letter contained the following direction: "Enclosed you will find $2 to pay back subscription, if there is any, and the remainder to the Press," which we interpreted to move the Press; and as you had paid to the close of Vol. VII, we applied one dollar on Vol. VIII, receipted in No. 1, and the other dollar "to move Office &c," receipted in No. 2.
H. Bingham:—By request of Bre. Waggoner, we state that your donation was received at this Office, and duly delivered to him.
H. W. Lawrence:—The paper has been sent regularly to Sr. Reed since ordered, and her money you will find receipted in No. 2.
Receipts.
By Editor
J I Bostwick, A H Huntley, L M Jones, N Guider, H Ross, A C Morton, Mrs. A Andrews, E J Neuson, E Labdell, Wm Cobb, E Rose, N N Hunt, Jno Stowell, A Cartwright, S Swan, E A Poole, P Robinson (for M Lee,) L Johnson, S B Craig (for S Craig,) M M Richmond, E Cobb (for M Tyler,) E Sanford, O J Downing, P Hutchins, each $1.
N Denison, L Tarbell, each $2. H Rockwell, B D Townsend, E Dunscomb, a Sister, Sr Sawyer, P A Gammen, each $0,50. Jos W Smith, $0,25.
ON VOL. VII.—L B Stowell, A Cartwright, Wm Carpenter, A Sanders, S Swan, P Hutchins, each $1. E Rose, $0,50.
Books for Sale at this Office.
By Editor
RATES OF POSTAGE.
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Hymns for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This is the title of our new Hymn Book prepared for the use of the Church of God scattered abroad. It is designed to promote not only public worship, but also social and family devotions. It is a selection of Hymns of poetic merit, expressing the faith and hope of the Church as set forth in the Scriptures of truth, free from the popular errors of the age. The Book contains 352 Pages, 430 Hymns and 76 pieces of Music. Nearly every Hymn can be sung in some one of the pieces of Music, which will promote uniformity and correctness in singing among the Churches.—Price, 62½ cents.—In Morocco, 70 cents.—Weight 7 & 8 ounces
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Sabbath Tracts, Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4. This work presents a condensed view of the entire Sabbath question.—184 pages. Price 15 cents—Wt. 4 oz.
The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days. by "J. N. A." This work presents a clear exposition of Daniel viii and ix, points out distinctly the commencement and termination of the 2300 days, shows what the Sanctuary is, and the nature of its cleansing, and explains the disappointment of the Advent people in regard to time, and the true position of those who are new waiting for their Lord.—Price 12½ cents. Wt. 3 oz.
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POEMS.
Home Here and Home in Heaven, with other poems. This work embraces all those sweet and Scriptural poems written by Annie R. Smith, from the time she embraced the third message till she fell asleep in Jesus.—Price 25 cents.—Wt 4 oz.—In paper covers, 20 cents.—Wt. 2 oz.
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Address URIAH SMITH, Battle-Creek, Mich.
When Friends Become Enemies
When an esteemed friend turns from us, we often find him the most inveterate enemy.
Injurious Defense of a Good Cause
If a cause be good, the violent attacks of its enemies will not injure it so much as an injudicious defense of it by friends.
Suppressing Anger Prevents Sorrow
He who can suppress a moment's anger, may prevent many a day's sorrow.