One of the greatest difficulties which we who observe the seventh day have ever found in the Sabbath controversy, is to make our opponents understand what is the real question at issue. So long have their thoughts, feelings and habits, been moulded under one particular view of the subject, that it seems almost a miracle if one is found who can disregard all foreign matter, and look at the precise point in debate long enough to come to any certain and intelligent conclusion about it. But it is evident, that if an opponent is suffered to raise false issues, or to be continually striking off into the discussion of some point which does not affect the final question, we may prolong the controversy _ad infinitum_. Let us then endeavor to state distinctly what is, and what is not, the issue between us and the observers of the first day of the week. 1. The issue is not whether the first day of the week was observed at a very early period by Christians. We admit that it was. We admit that its observance may be traced up to very near the borders of the apostolic age. What more can a generous, conscientious opponent, who scorns any other aid than what the truth will give him, ask? He knows in his own soul that this is the very utmost that can be produced from any of his histories. Let him ransack his old musty volumes all the way backward, till he fancies he can almost talk to the "beloved disciple" face to face, and what more can he find? Verily, nothing. But when you have got this admission from us, then we have another question to ask. _How_--don't dodge the question--HOW was the day observed by the early Christians? We admit the observance of it; but that is not the issue. The issue respects the _manner_ of observing it. You, if you are consistent, will say that the early Christians observed it not only by public worship, but by _abstaining from labor_. We, on the other hand, deny that they abstained from labor. We admit that they held public worship; but--we repeat it--_we deny that they abstained from labor_. We deny that they regarded it as a _Sabbath_, "resting according to the commandment." Now with the issue thus fairly stated, we put the laboring oar into your hands, and challenge you to prove your position. Bring proof, if you can, that the early Christians regarded the first day of the week as any thing else than a _religious festival_; between which and a _Sabbath_ there is a very important difference, the latter requiring abstinence from labor, the former merely requiring public worship in honor of the event commemorated, and allowing the remainder of the day to be spent in labor or amusement.