The Seventh Day Sabbath, a Perpetual Sign: 1847 editionBates, Joseph
Religion
The Seventh Day Sabbath, a Perpetual Sign: 1847 edition
Bates, Joseph
Sabbath; Seventh-Day Adventists -- Doctrines
[33]"I have examined several different translations of the
scriptures, both from the Hebrew and Septuagint, with notes
and annotations more extensive than the texts; have traced as
far as my leisure would permit, various ecclesiastical
histories, some of them voluminous and of ancient date; have
paid considerable attention to the writings of the earliest
authors in the Christian era, and to rare works, old and of
difficult access, which treat upon this subject; I have read
with care many of the publications of sectarians to sustain
the institution; I have omitted nothing within my reach, and I
have found not one shred of argument, or authority of any
kind, that may not be deemed of partial and sectarian
character, to support the institution of the first day of the
week, as a day of peculiar holiness. But, in place of
argument, I have found opinions without number--volumes filled
with idle words that have no truth in them. In the want of
texts of Scripture, I have found perversions; in the want of
truth, false statements. I have seen it stated that Justin
Marter in his Apology speaks of Sunday as a holy day; that
Eusebius, bishop of Cesarea, who lived in the fourth century,
establishes the fact of the transfer of the SEVENTH to the
first day, by Christ himself. These things are NOT TRUE. These
authors say no such thing. I have seen other early authors
referred to as establishing the same point, but they are
equally false."
Here then is the testimony of four authors, two for the change and two
against it, from the old and new world. No truth seeking, unbiassed mind
can hesitate for a moment on which side to decide, after comparing them
with the inspired word.
Doctor JENKS of Boston, author of the Comprehensive Commentary,
(purporting to comprehend _all_ other commentators on the bible,) after
quoting author after author on this subject, ventures forth with _his_
unsupported opinion in these words: "Here is a Christian Sabbath
observed by the disciples and _owned by our Lord_. The visit Christ made
to his disciples was on the first day of the week, and the first day of
the week is the only day of the week or month or year ever mentioned by
numbers in all the New Testament, and that is several times spoken of as
a day _religiously_ observed." Where? Echo answers, where!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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