52 OBLIGATION OF THE SABBATH. 



Ecclesiastical History. Testimony of Ieexætts. Sabbath-observance blessed, 



John XX. 16 ; Matt. xxviii. 9 — 11 ; Luke xxiv. 30 — 40; John 

 XX. 19, 20 ] 26—29 ; Acts ii. 1—4 ; xx. 6, 7 ; xxi. 4, 5 ; 1 

 Cor. xvi. 1, 2 ; Rev. i. 10.) 



This Scriptural view is confirmed in the clearest manner by 

 Ecclesiastical History. This is good testimony as to the mat- 

 ter of fact. Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr of Rome, 

 DiONYSius of Corinth, Tertullian of Carthage (all writers 

 of the first and second centuries), agree in their views of the 

 Lord's day, or the day of Chrisfs resurrection, as the day of 

 Christian worship. It is true they often distinguish it from 

 the "Sabbath/' meaning the Jeivish Sabbath ; but at other 

 times, their language is as explicit as we could desire, as to 

 the name and authority of the Sabbath being transferred to 

 the First Day. Take for example these words of Irenæus, a 

 writer of the highest character, (a. d. 178 :) " On the LorcVs 

 day we Christians hecp the SahhathJ' Were the first Chris- 

 tians then Anti-sabbatarians ? So far from it, a man who re- 

 fused to keep the Sabbath on the Lord's day would not have 

 been easily recognized by Irenæus as a Christian. Let W. 

 B. T. think of this. 



The conclusion of the whole argument is this : Either there 

 are now two Sabbaths (which AY. B. T. denies), or the one 

 Sabbath of the Creation, and of the Decalogue is perpetuated ; 

 is exalted by a new association with the work of Bedemption, 

 and for that reason by Divine Authority attached to the first 

 day of the week, in preference to the seventh. Still, it is a 

 '^seventh'^ day as before; and as such, of course, absorbs into 

 itself all the authority of the original Law, and all the bless- 

 ings of the original Promise. What want we more ? 



That the conscientious observance of the Sabbath is attended 

 with peculiar hiessings to individuals, we have testimony from 

 men of the highest intelligence and closest observation, of all 

 countries, ages, sects, and occupations. This is not to be set 

 aside by a sneer at superstition. Superstition will hardly ac- 



