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

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egard to <strong>the</strong> use to be made <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Old Testament.<br />

With him, <strong>the</strong> law <strong>of</strong> Moses was still binding.<br />

Lu<strong>the</strong>r, on <strong>the</strong> contrary, had a strong aversion to<br />

what he calls a legal <strong>and</strong> Judaizing religion.<br />

Carlstadt held to <strong>the</strong> divine authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Sabbath</strong> from <strong>the</strong> Old Testament; Lu<strong>the</strong>r believed<br />

Christians were free to observe any day as a<br />

<strong>Sabbath</strong>, provided <strong>the</strong>y be uniform in observing<br />

it."[27]<br />

We have, however, Lu<strong>the</strong>r's own statement<br />

respecting Carlstadt's views <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>. It is<br />

from his book "Against <strong>the</strong> Celestial Prophets:"--<br />

"Indeed, if Carlstadt were to write fur<strong>the</strong>r about<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong>, Sunday would have to give way, <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> -- that is to say, Saturday -- must be<br />

kept holy; he would truly make us Jews in all<br />

things, <strong>and</strong> we should come to be circumcised: for<br />

that is true, <strong>and</strong> cannot be denied, that he who<br />

deems it necessary to keep one law <strong>of</strong> Moses, <strong>and</strong><br />

keeps it as <strong>the</strong> law <strong>of</strong> Moses, must deem all<br />

necessary, <strong>and</strong> keep <strong>the</strong>m all."[28]<br />

804

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