Esoteric V10: July 1896 - Iapsop.com

1897.] "TH£ G Altnu; Dr~covJmY ." 499
appointed a one day in seven, lout tl1e day \\hidt wa11 tlwn
known as the Seventh according to the teachings of tho11e days•
and, according to the .Mosaic acc·otmt of the creation, •• God had
blessed that day and sanctified it." •• Rt-memher and keep."
(according to Rashi) wss pronounced at the ssme time, the day
-the d~finite article--h.•ing prefixed to the word Sabbath.
It is true that the wo .. d Sabbath is also 1111ell synonymously
with the phrase, "conq.ll'iMing a wet>k ;" but the authors of the
Talmud in giving form>~ of coutrauts and pa~rs of importance,
date them on tbt~ fit·>~t, st'contl, t.hird, fourth. and fifth day
toward tbe cnming Sahbath. and in proper distinction deMignate
the sixth day as• the prt-paration.day for the Sabbath. St.
Mathew (xxvn. 62) cli>~tingui!! hes the day by the words: "The
day that fnllowecl the .,..J.P a~ewfi·"
How can tbe fact that the H~st of the Seventh-day, accuTding
to the Prophets and the apostles. ia typical of ett't·nal
rest, disprove anything iu rt>gard to the positive Seventh-day
which God had conseurated when He ceased from His works uf
creati'?n on that day as a clay uf rest and repose? Yet our
discl)verer presses evt'u such genernl JXletical and symboJic•al
subJimitie>~ into service in order to Jlrov e his great diacovery (?).
In the condescension of the Deity, He was pleased to lead
mankind as a personal tutelary Being, ae.cording to His Love;
and aueb is the case to-clay, slthough our icleas and knowledge,
consequently understanding, about the cosmo11 and Jaws of the
world have changed, and, accordingly, diifet· from the }fosaic
accounts. Christianity beholds Him descended in human f01·m
and flesh. and expects Him again in a personal, identicnl way.
As to the chronology of Biblical times •• Jewish learned men
vied with Babylonian chronologists in leaving us poaitive .~tatements
regarding yeartc, moutluc, weelcs and days, according to
the Lunar system, after which the Jewish calendar baR beeu
made as unerring as any system of reckoning time can be; and
ao we have knowledge of dating, at least from the time of Ezra
and Nehemiah. since the construction of the second temple.
The precise period of the dedication of the first temple, which
oceurred during the time of Solomon, nearly 500 years previous,
and its later destruction, are mentioned to the very date.
Digitized by Coogle