The Sabbath question is one that will demand
great care and wisdom in its presentation. Much of the grace
and power of God will be needed to cast down the idol that has
been erected in the shape of a false sabbath. Lift up the standard,
lift it up, higher and still higher. Point the people to the
twentieth chapter of Exodus, in which the law of God is recorded.
The first four of the Ten Commandments outline our duty to our
Maker. He who is false to his God cannot be true to his neighbor.
He who loves God supremely will love his neighbor as himself.
Pride lifts itself up unto vanity, leading the human agent to
make a god of himself. The gospel of Christ sanctifies the soul,
expelling self-love.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep
it holy." Exodus 20:8. The Sabbath was instituted in Eden,
after God had created the world. "Thus the heavens and the
earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh
day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the
seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed
the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had
rested from all His work which God created and made." Genesis
2:1-3.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My
Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout
your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth
sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is
holy unto you: everyone that defileth it shall surely be put
to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall
be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done;
but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord:
whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely
be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep
the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations,
for a perpetual covenant." Exodus 31:12-16.