CHAPTER XIV.

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH - ARTICLE XII.

ARTICLE XII.

OF THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

We believe that the Christian Sabbath is divinely appointed; that it is commemorative of our Lord's resurrection from the grave, and is an emblem of our eternal rest; that it is essential to the welfare of the civil community, and to the permanence and growth of the Christian church, and that it should be reverently observed as a day of holy rest and of social and public worship.

CHRISTIAN writers differ in their opinions concerning the Sabbath day. Some hold that it is only a positive duty to observe the Sabbath; others hold that it is a moral obligation; while others hold that it is both moral and positive. The doctrine set forth in this article of the Confession is that the obligation to keep the Sabbath day holy is a moral, and hence perpetual, obligation. While there were some things connected with the observance of the Sabbath day according to the Mosaic ceremonies that were of a positive nature, it is very evident that these were appendages, and not connected with the Sabbath day in its origin. If the observance of the Sabbath day is only a positive duty, then the obligation to observe it must have ended with the Mosaic ceremonies; but if it is a moral duty, then it is perpetual, and binding upon

us.

ORIGIN OF THE SABBATH DAY.

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That the Sabbath day originated prior to the time of Moses, is evident from the mention made of it in Exodus 16:22-30. The passage is too long to quote in full in this connection. Moses speaks of it as "the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord," and "the seventh day, which is the sabbath." "The Lord hath given you the sabbath." The whole account given in this place shows very clearly that it did not originate with Moses. He recognized it as the holy Sabbath day given by the Lord himself, upon which he rested, and which he blessed and sanctified. Our Lord said, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath" (Mark 2:27). The Lord, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, ordained the Sabbath for man as a day of bodily rest and for spiritual exercise. If it were necessary for these purposes in the beginning, it is none the less so now. One day out of seven for rest, meditation, and worship is of infinite value to mankind. "It is," says Dr. Clarke, "by the authority of God that the Sabbath is set apart for rest and religious purposes." God, who formed both the body and mind of man, knew what was necessary both for his comfort and welfare.

A careful study of the fourth commandment will establish in the mind the following propositions: first, that God ordained the Sabbath day; second, the obligation to keep it holy is moral; third, it is perpetual and universal. This commandment was not written by Moses, but by the finger of God on a table of stone. "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8-11). “As this was the most ancient institution, God calls them to remember it; as if he had said, Do not forget that when I had finished my creation, I instituted the Sabbath, and remember why I did so and for what purpose." The obligation to obey the fourth commandment is as perpetual, binding, and universal as it is to obey the first commandment.

CHANGE FROM THE SEVENTH TO THE FIRST DAY
OF THE WEEK.

Upon this there has been no little controversy. If we assume that any particular day is essential to the validity of the moral obligation, then it must be universally so, and this would involve very great difficulty. For while it is midday in some countries, it is midnight in others. In our own country the inhabitants on the Atlantic Coast would commence several hours earlier than those on the Pacific Coast. The seventh day in China is the first day in New York. If the very day is essential, so are the hours; hence the difficulty for all nations to observe the same day and the same hours. "It is not, therefore, the seventh day according to any particular method of computing the septenary cycle, but in reference to the six before-mentioned days, every seventh day in rotation after six days of labor." For the benefit of mankind God saw that it was good to set apart one-seventh part of the time for rest and devotion.

The change was made by divine authority. The article under review says, "We believe that the Christian Sabbath is divinely appointed." The apostles were divinely commissioned to preach the gospel, and to "organize and regulate the Christian church." What they did in "organizing and regulating the Christian church" was as much by divine authority as what they said. They, as the divinely appointed apostles of our Lord, changed the day themselves. The question then is as to whether or not they had a right to do what they did. The answer to this question lies in another question. Were they divinely commissioned to preach the gospel and "organize and regulate the Christian church"? If they were, then they had a right to do what they did; but if they were not, then neither their precepts nor their examples are binding, and the inspiration of the New Testament falls to the ground.

This Christian Sabbath is called the "Lord's day," because upon that day he arose from the tomb, and it is commemorated in honor of that great and glorious event. In this article of the Confession we say, "that it is commemorative of our Lord's resurrection from the grave,

and that it should be reverently observed as a day of holy rest and of social and public worship." In our Book of Discipline we say, "Every one shall keep the Sabbath day holy, as required in the Word of God." By the Sabbath day we mean the Christian Sabbath. This is, and always has been, the belief of the United Brethren Church.

Concerning the practice of the apostles, it is recorded in Acts 20:7 that "upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow." In I. Corinthians 16:2 we read, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." In Revelation 1:10 John says, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." Upon this Dr. Clarke remarks that this is "the first day of the week, observed as the Christian Sabbath, because on it Jesus Christ rose from the dead; therefore it was called the Lord's day, and has taken the place of the Jewish Sabbath throughout the Christian world."

The history of the church from, and including, the times of the apostles shows that the first day of the week was called the "Lord's day," and observed as the Christian Sabbath.

In A.D. 101 Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, says, "Let every one that loves Christ keep holy the Lord's day the queen of days, the resurrection day, the highest of all days."

In the second century, Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch, says, "Both custom and reason challenge from us that we should honor the Lord's day, seeing on that day it was that our Lord Jesus completed his resurrection from the dead."

In the same century, Irenæus, Bishop of Lyons, says, "On the Lord's day, every one of us Christians keep the Sabbath." Irenæus was a disciple of Polycarp, and Polycarp was a disciple of St. John; so that that brings him quite near the apostolic times.

Clement of Alexandria, also of the second century, says, "A Christian, according to the command of the gospel, observes the Lord's day, thereby glorifying the resurrection of the Lord."

In the same century Tertullian says, "The Lord's day is the holy day of the Christian church." To these may be added the testimony of Eusebius and Justin Martyr. The teaching and example of the apostles, and the testimony of the early Christian fathers, establish beyond all reasonable doubt the following propositions: first, that the first day of the week and the Lord's day mean the same thing; second, that this day was commemorative of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; third, that this day was observed as the Christian Sabbath. The great body of orthodox Christians in all countries hold and teach substantially the doctrine set forth in this article of the Confession.

The observance of one day in seven as a day of rest, meditation, and worship is of inestimable value to man. It is God's own arrangement. He knew what was best for mankind, and we do well to accept his plan. It is doubtful whether the church would or could retain its visible form if the Sabbath day were abrogated. Dr. Clarke says, "Without this consecrated day, religion itself would fail, and the human mind, becoming sensualized, would soon forget its origin and end." Let all, therefore, who desire to honor the Lord by walking in the way of his commandments, "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."