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

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ecause <strong>the</strong> Jews did not rest upon <strong>the</strong> right day,<br />

but he condemns <strong>the</strong> very idea <strong>of</strong> refraining from<br />

labor for a day, stating that "<strong>the</strong> new law," which<br />

has taken <strong>the</strong> place <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> comm<strong>and</strong>ments given on<br />

Sinai[42] requires a perpetual <strong>Sabbath</strong>, <strong>and</strong> this is<br />

kept by repenting <strong>of</strong> sin <strong>and</strong> refraining from its<br />

commission. Here are his words:--<br />

"The new law requires you to keep a perpetual<br />

<strong>Sabbath</strong>, <strong>and</strong> you, because you are idle for one day,<br />

suppose you are pious, not discerning why this has<br />

been comm<strong>and</strong>ed you; <strong>and</strong> if you eat unleavened<br />

bread, you say <strong>the</strong> will <strong>of</strong> God has been fulfilled.<br />

The Lord our God does not take pleasure in such<br />

observances: if <strong>the</strong>re is any perjured person or a<br />

thief among you, let him cease to be so; if any<br />

adulterer, let him repent; <strong>the</strong>n he has kept <strong>the</strong> sweet<br />

<strong>and</strong> true <strong>Sabbath</strong>s <strong>of</strong> God."[43]<br />

This language plainly implies that Justin did<br />

not believe that any day should be kept as a<br />

<strong>Sabbath</strong> by abstinence from labor, but that all days<br />

should be kept as <strong>Sabbath</strong>s by abstinence from sin.<br />

This testimony is decisive, <strong>and</strong> it is in exact<br />

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