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

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number than in <strong>the</strong> eighth <strong>the</strong> honor <strong>of</strong> numerical<br />

agreement with <strong>the</strong> Sabbatical period; so that <strong>the</strong><br />

month in which Gods' image is sometimes<br />

produced in a human birth, shall in its number tally<br />

with <strong>the</strong> day on which God's creation was<br />

completed <strong>and</strong> hallowed."[14]<br />

"For even in <strong>the</strong> case before us he [Christ]<br />

fulfilled <strong>the</strong> law, while interpreting its condition;<br />

[moreover] he exhibits in a clear light <strong>the</strong> different<br />

kinds <strong>of</strong> work, while doing what <strong>the</strong> law excepts<br />

from <strong>the</strong> sacredness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>, [<strong>and</strong>] while<br />

imparting to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> day itself which from <strong>the</strong><br />

beginning had been consecrated by <strong>the</strong> benediction<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r, an additional sanctity by his own<br />

beneficent action."[15]<br />

Origen, who, as we have seen, believed in a<br />

mystical <strong>Sabbath</strong>, did never<strong>the</strong>less fix its origin at<br />

<strong>the</strong> sanctification <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> seventh day:--<br />

"For he [Celsus] knows nothing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> <strong>and</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> God, which follows <strong>the</strong><br />

completion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> worlds creation, <strong>and</strong> which lasts<br />

534

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