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

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eader judge whe<strong>the</strong>r we have correctly stated <strong>the</strong><br />

nature <strong>of</strong> that observance. Next we invite attention<br />

to <strong>the</strong> several reasons <strong>of</strong>fered by <strong>the</strong>se fa<strong>the</strong>rs for<br />

celebrating <strong>the</strong> festival <strong>of</strong> Sunday.<br />

The reputed epistle <strong>of</strong> Barnabas supports <strong>the</strong><br />

Sunday festival by saying that it was <strong>the</strong> day "on<br />

which Jesus rose again from <strong>the</strong> dead," <strong>and</strong> it<br />

intimates that it prefigures <strong>the</strong> eighth thous<strong>and</strong><br />

years, when God shall create <strong>the</strong> world anew.[18]<br />

Justin Martyr has four reasons:--<br />

1. "It is <strong>the</strong> first day on which God having<br />

wrought a change in <strong>the</strong> darkness <strong>and</strong> matter, made<br />

<strong>the</strong> world."[19]<br />

2. "Jesus Christ our Saviour on <strong>the</strong> same day<br />

rose from <strong>the</strong> dead."[20]<br />

3. "It is possible for us to show how <strong>the</strong> eighth<br />

day possessed a certain mysterious import, which<br />

<strong>the</strong> seventh day did not possess, <strong>and</strong> which was<br />

promulgated by God through <strong>the</strong>se rites,"[21] i.e.,<br />

491

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