216 ABROGATION OP THE SABBATH. 



A valuable connecting link. John xx. — No hint of a Sabbath. 



work. Tarry here, therefore, and rest until the day be fully 

 past, and then go straightway aud tell the disciples what ye 

 have heard, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever ye 

 have been commanded. 38 And it came to pass, when he 

 had made an end of speaking, the two disciples marvelled 

 greatly within themselves if tliis were indeed Jesus who was 

 risen from the dead ; for he spake as oue having authority : 

 howbeit they knew not his voice. 39 Then the disciple whose 

 name was Cleopas answered aud said unto him, Lo, now speak- 

 est thou plainly, and speakest no parable ; now we understand 

 that of a surety the first day of the week is the holy Sabbath 

 of rest/'] (^MS. Interpolatum, cap. xxiv.) 



^' That they did then understand," says my friend, ^^ that 

 ihe first day of the week was henceforth to be the Lord's day, 

 and to be observed by Christians as such, is evident from the 

 fact next recorded. — John xx. 26 — 29." (p. 184.) As a con- 

 necting link, the value of this interesting though uncanonical 

 fragment cannot be too highly appreciated. It furnishes at 

 once the explicit confirmation of a hypothetical precept, and 

 the triumphant refutation of " ungodly and profane" Anti- 

 sabbatarianism. Striking as is the fortunate coincidenee of 

 discovery which has rewarded our respective researches, I can- 

 not for a moment contest with J. N. B. the merit of priority. 



6. The sixth text is John xx. 19, 20 : " Then the same 

 day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doers 

 were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the 

 Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, 

 Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed 

 unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples 

 glad when they saw the Lord." Therefore, argues my friend, 

 " Thou shalt not do any work" on the first day ; and as a 

 necessary inference " the seventh day" is not the Sabbath ! 



Can any one not blessed with '^ second-sight," or with the 

 faculty of seeing in the dark, discover a cobweb of connection 

 between this incident, and any requirement of the fourth com- 

 mandment ? ^^ Can any one in his sober senses" seriously main- 



