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History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week - John N. Andrews

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<strong>Sabbath</strong>: <strong>and</strong> some <strong>of</strong> my servants set I at <strong>the</strong> gates,<br />

that <strong>the</strong>re should no burden be brought in on <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Sabbath</strong> day. So <strong>the</strong> merchants <strong>and</strong> sellers <strong>of</strong> all<br />

kind <strong>of</strong> ware lodged without Jerusalem once or<br />

twice. Then I testified against <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>and</strong> said unto<br />

<strong>the</strong>m, Why lodge ye about <strong>the</strong> wall? if ye do so<br />

again, I will lay h<strong>and</strong>s on you. From that time forth<br />

came <strong>the</strong>y no more on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>. And I<br />

comm<strong>and</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> Levites that <strong>the</strong>y should cleanse<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves, <strong>and</strong> that <strong>the</strong>y should come <strong>and</strong> keep<br />

<strong>the</strong> gates, to sanctify <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> day. Remember<br />

me, O my God, concerning this also, <strong>and</strong> spare me<br />

according to <strong>the</strong> greatness <strong>of</strong> thy mercy." (Neh.<br />

13:15-22)<br />

This scripture is an explicit testimony that <strong>the</strong><br />

destruction <strong>of</strong> Jerusalem <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> captivity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Jews at Babylon were in consequence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>anation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>. It is a striking<br />

confirmation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> language <strong>of</strong> Jeremiah, already<br />

noticed, in which he testified to <strong>the</strong> Jews that if<br />

<strong>the</strong>y would hallow <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir city should<br />

st<strong>and</strong> forever; but that it should be utterly<br />

destroyed if <strong>the</strong>y persisted in its pr<strong>of</strong>anation.<br />

174

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