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

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work <strong>of</strong> nature in <strong>the</strong> space <strong>of</strong> six days (as is<br />

contained in <strong>the</strong> secrets <strong>of</strong> Holy Scripture) <strong>and</strong><br />

CONSECRATED <strong>the</strong> seventh day on which he had<br />

rested from his works. But this is <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> day,<br />

which, in <strong>the</strong> language <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hebrews, received its<br />

name from <strong>the</strong> number, whence <strong>the</strong> seventh is <strong>the</strong><br />

legitimate <strong>and</strong> complete number."[18]<br />

In a poem on Genesis written about <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong><br />

Lactantius, but by an unknown author, we have an<br />

explicit testimony to <strong>the</strong> divine appointment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

seventh day to a holy use while man was yet in<br />

Eden, <strong>the</strong> garden <strong>of</strong> God:-- "The seventh came,<br />

when God At his work's end did rest,<br />

DECREEING IT SACRED UNTO THE COMING<br />

AGE'S JOYS."[19]<br />

The Apostolical Constitution, while teaching<br />

<strong>the</strong> present obligation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>, plainly<br />

indicate its origin to have been at creation:--<br />

"O Lord Almighty, thou hast created <strong>the</strong> world<br />

by Christ, <strong>and</strong> hast appointed <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> in<br />

memory <strong>the</strong>re<strong>of</strong>, because that on that day thou hast<br />

536

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