126 ABROGATION Or THE SABEATH. 



The Sabbath a Jcwish memorial ; and a distinctive institution. 



The obvious explanation ^hy this reason is not formallj as- 

 signed in Exod. xx., is tbat the institution was tlien too re- 

 cent to require it. Another point was in more immediate need 

 of illustration, — namely, wliy this memorial of national repose 

 should be observed iceekli/, rather tban montbly, or yearly ; 

 and wby on Saturdaf/, rather than on Sunday.* But the 

 Israelites were distinctly informed that it was for them a peculiar 

 institution (Exod. xxxi. 13), whereby they might know them- 

 selves "set apart," — DDLynp^ {niWjadish-kem^—hj Jehovah. 

 " It is a sign between Me and you throughout your genera- 

 tions:" — "a perpetual covcnant ;" (v. 16:) — declarations ut- 

 terl}^ devoid of meaning, if the Sabbath was then of moral and 

 ^'universal obligation !"f It was not any particular ohservance 

 — ^but the " Sabbath" its^I/—th.Sit was the " sign" or token of 

 their " separation." (Ezck. xx. 12.) 



But it is urged by J. N.B. Qj. 57) that Jesus ^^came not to 

 destroy the law, but to fulfil it;" and that not one jot or tit- 

 tle was to pass from the law '^ tdl all sJioidd be fidfilled :" 

 not one of the least commandments was to be broken. I an- 

 swer that this was true — not only of the Sabbath law, but of 

 the sacrificial — and every other Jewish law. Not one tittle of 

 any part of the Law could "fail:" {Luke xvi. 16, 17 :) not 

 one letter of it could be either "broken" or "destroyed:" but 

 " all things must be accomplished." {John xix. 28, 30.) And 

 when the Sabbath had heen thus accomplished {Col. ii. 14, 



* " Mainionides and other Hebrews" (says Grotius) " well dis- 

 tinguish the causes why the rest was ordered, and why this particular 

 daj/ : the former cause is assigned in Deuteronomj — because they were 

 delivered from a hard servitude, &c., and the hitter cause in this place 

 [^Fxod. XX.] — because this day was chosen by God in which to rest," 

 &c. [Annotations on Old Test. Exod. xx.) 



f " If this law had been given to all nations, it could not have been 

 a distinguishing ' sign^ of them from others ; nor would it be known 

 thercby that God had 'separated' them to himself above all peoplc." 

 Gill. {^Commcnt. on Exod. xxxi. 13.) 



