156 ABROGATION OF THE SABBATH. 



The Epiptle to the Bomans, destructive to Sabbatarianism. 



now/' says J. N. B., *'what is Paul urging there ?" (]). 80.) 

 A " candid" answer to this ingenuous question will leave the 

 Sabbatarian no inch of Bible ground to stand upon !* At 

 present, space will not permit the critical examination of this 

 text which its importance deserves. I onlj remark, that the 

 ^'momentous distinction" of my friend is a simple "fancy." 

 Holy days and unholy meats are put, by Paul, in exactly the 

 same predicament — of observances absolutely indifferent to the 

 gospel Christian. f If J. N. B. can reconcile a "Divine 

 authority," enjoining the estimation of the Sabbath above 

 other days, with the Divine authority indisputably given in 



^ PauFs unqualified language "strikes equally against the Christ- 

 ian's 'Lord's day,' as against the Sabbath of the Decalogue. And 

 where, then, let me ask, is there any law, or institution for public 

 worship in the New Testament?" J, N. B. [p. 19.) 



" The law of the Sabbath being thus repealed, that no particular 

 day of worship has been appointed in its place, is evident from the 

 same apostle. — Rom. xiv." Milton. [Christ. Doctrine, Bookii. chap. 7.) 



" In the fom-teenth to the Romans, the great patron and champion 

 of Christian liberty not obscurely declareth his mind, that Chi-istians 

 of strength in judgment did regard no day above another, but es- 

 teemed all days (he excepteth none) alike, as to any special obligation 

 grounded upon Divine law and right. In subordiuation to which doc- 

 trine, we may add, that this appears, with great evidence, to have 

 been the common opinion of the wisest and most orthodox Christians 

 in the primitive church — the most constant and strict adhercnts to 

 Catholic tradition (who, from the Apostle's instruction, best understood 

 the purport and limits of the liberty purchased by Christ) — that this 

 law, as it was not known or practised before Moses, so it ceased to oblige 

 after Christ ; being one of the < shadows' which the evangelical light 

 dispelled — one of the ' hurdens' which this law of liberty did take off 

 us." Barrow. [Works, vol. i. Exposit. of Decalogue.) 



f- <'He that regardeth [niargin — observeth] the day, regardeth it 

 unto the Lord ; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth 

 not regard it. Ile that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God 

 thanks ; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth 

 God thanks." Paul. 



"Now mark one momentous distinction!" J. N. B. [p. 81.) 



