THE SABBATH. 15 



was introduced as a substitute for Saturday, and that 

 its observance is as binding upon Christians as their 

 Sabbath was upon the Jews, I can only say that those 

 which I have seen are of the flirnsiest. and vaguest 

 character. ' If,' says Milton, ' on the plea of a divine 

 command, they impose upon us the observances of a 

 particular day, how do they presume, without the 

 authority of a divine command, to substitute another 

 day in its place ? ' Outside the bounds of theology no 

 one would think of applying the term 'proofs' to the 

 evidence adduced for the change ; and yet on this 

 pivot, it has been alleged, turns the eternal fate of 

 human souls. 1 Were such a doctrine not actual it 

 would be incredible. It has been truly said that the 

 man who accepts it sinks, in doing so, to the lowest 

 depth of Atheism. It is perfectly reasonable for a 

 religious community to set apart one day in seven for 

 rest and devotion. Most of those who object to the 

 Judaic observance of the Sabbath recognise not only 

 the wisdom but the necessity of some such institution, 

 not on the ground of a divine edict, but of common 

 sense. 2 They contend, however, that it ought to be as 

 far as possible a day of cheerful renovation both of 



1 In 1785 the first mail-coach reached Edinburgh from London, 

 and in 1788 it was continued to Glasgow. The innovation was de- 

 nounced by a minister of the Secession Church of Scotland as 

 ' contrary to the laws both of Church and State ; contrary to the 

 laws of God ; contrary to the most conclusive and constraining 

 reasons assigned by God ; and calculated not only to promote the 

 hurt and ruin of the nation, but also the eternal damnation of mul- 

 titudes.' Cox, vol. ii. p. 248. Even in our day there are clergymen 

 foolish enough to indulge in this dealing out of damnation. 



2 ' That public worship,' says Milton, ' is commended and in- 

 culcated as a voluntary duty, even under the Gospel, I allow ; but 

 that it is a matter of compulsory enactment, binding on believers 

 from the authority of this commandment, or of any Sinaitical 

 precept whatever, I deny.' 



