human
and in the absence of all such evidence, that the Lord designed to elevate the first day of the week to the special regard of the Christian Church, and confer upon it the sacredness of the ancient Sabbath; would we not, at least, have some intimation of it in the writings of the prophets, in which all the important circumstances of the Redeemer's life and mission are foreshadowed? Where, reader, will you find any thing in them that predicts any _change_ of the _holy Sabbath_ to the _resurrection day_? If found, let it be adduced. The Sabbath is a standing monument against _Atheism_, for all ages, declaring the workmanship of God; yet some _assume_, that as _redemption_ is a greater work, and a more important work, than the _creation_ of the universe and the living _souls_ which inhabit all the spheres, therefore the _resurrection day_ ought to be honored as the _rest-day_. Has not the _Lord_ the right to determine this matter? If HE deemed it important that the _resurrection day_ be thus distinguished, would HE not have _declared it_, expressly, unto us? Would HE have left us to _infer_ it? Can we, will we, be justified in casting aside the _explicit_ command of the Most High, in this matter, to substitute our _fancied_ day of greater _importance_ than the one the _Almighty_ has _ordained_?
gpt
Wherefore kick ye at _my_ sacrifice and at _mine_ offering, which I have commanded? 1 Sam. 2:29.
human
It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
gpt
(which, even if satisfactorily established, would not invalidate our position, nor entitle it to supersede the holy Sabbath); and, more particularly, if there is no evidence in the Inspired Volume, that the term
human
Lord's day is intended to designate the _first day of the week_; we are reduced, by every principle of reasoning, to regard the _seventh day_--the Heaven-heralded Sabbath--as the only
gpt
Lord's day, the only
human
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy --
gpt
Ex. 20:8. If that sacred injunction has been abrogated, we should expect--(for it would be unreasonable to recognize its repeal or transfer, without as explicit and as authoritative a mandate from the Court of Heaven)--at least a _re-enactment_ somewhat thus:
human
Is there any intimation of such an _abrogation_, or such a _transfer_ of the _sacredness of the Sabbath_ to _Sunday_, in the _inspired volume_? Not the semblance of it. Even if the early disciples, without any intimation from the _Lord of the Sabbath_, but _of their own accord_, chose to set apart a special day as a _festival day_, as they were wont to do for _martyrs_ and _saints_, it can not, certainly, _supersede_ the _institution of Jehovah_; neither can they confer upon it the sacredness belonging, by the _decree of the Most High_, to _his rest-day_. Indeed, this is so evident, that the erudite and frank NEANDER expressly says,