PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

interrupted the enemy in filling up the trench.
Af
ter the establishment of synagogues (of the origin of
WIlich we have no account) it \vas tIle custom to as ..
semble in them upon the sabbath day, for the purpose
of hearillg the law rehearsed and explained, and for
the exercist 1 , it is probable, of public devotion. " F01·
Moses of old time hath in every city them that
preach him, being read in the synagogues c,,-'cry sMbbatll
da),." The seventh day is Safurday; and agreeabk
to the Jewish way of conlputing the day, the sabbath
held from six o'clock on the }i-'rida'Y e\Tening, to six
o'clock on Saturday evening.
1~hese observations
heing premised, we approach ~he main question,
\Vhether the command, by Wi1ich the Jewish sabbath
was instituted, extend to us ?
If the divine command \\'as actually delivered at
the creation, it was addressed, no doubt, to the \vhole
hurnan species alike, and continues, unless repealed
by some subsequent revelatioll, binding upon all Wh0
come to the kno\\'ledge of it. If the comnlanJ was
published for the first tilDe in the wilderness, Ll)en
it was immed~1.tely directed to the Jewish people
alone; and s0111etl1ing farther, either in the subject,
or cirCUlnstances of· the comlnand, \\Till be nccessar,-
.I
to show, that it was desigllcd for any other. It i~
on this account, that the question concerning thf'
date of the institution \\rClS first to l)e considered.
'"The for mel· opinion precludes all debate about the
cxteIlt of the obligation: tIle latter adillits, an{}
prima facie, induces a belief, that the sabbatil ought
to be considered as part of the peculiar law of tht
Jewish policy.
\Vhich belief receives great confirmation from the
following arguments:
1'llC sabbatl1 is described as a sign bet\veen God
al!d the people of Israel: "Wherefore the childrell
of Israel sllall keep tIle sabbatll, to obser\i"c the sab ...
bath t11roughoul tl1cir f~cl1eratir)n3, f()r ,\ perpetual
covenallt; it is (1 ;j(~n betu'ccn 711C {Incl tiJC ,bi/(/rcll oj
Israel jorer:)cr." Exod. xxxi. 1 G, 17. Again," AntI
[ gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judg-