13.04.2018 Views

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

This should be compared with <strong>the</strong> testimony <strong>of</strong><br />

Ezekiel, speaking in <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> God:--<br />

"I gave <strong>the</strong>m my statutes, <strong>and</strong> showed <strong>the</strong>m my<br />

judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in<br />

<strong>the</strong>m. Moreover also I gave <strong>the</strong>m my <strong>Sabbath</strong>s, to<br />

be a sign between me <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, that <strong>the</strong>y might<br />

know that I am <strong>the</strong> Lord that sanctify <strong>the</strong>m. ... I am<br />

<strong>the</strong> Lord your God: walk in my statutes, <strong>and</strong> keep<br />

my judgments, <strong>and</strong> do <strong>the</strong>m; <strong>and</strong> hallow my<br />

<strong>Sabbath</strong>s; <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y shall be a sign between me <strong>and</strong><br />

you, that ye may know that I am <strong>the</strong> Lord your<br />

God." (Eze. 20:11, 12, 19, 20)<br />

It will be observed that nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />

scriptures teach that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> was made for<br />

Israel, nor yet do <strong>the</strong>y teach that it was made after<br />

<strong>the</strong> Hebrews came out <strong>of</strong> Egypt. In nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />

particulars do <strong>the</strong>y even seem to contradict those<br />

texts that place <strong>the</strong> institution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> at<br />

creation. But we do learn, 1. That it was God's act<br />

<strong>of</strong> giving to <strong>the</strong> Hebrews his <strong>Sabbath</strong> that made it a<br />

sign between <strong>the</strong>m <strong>and</strong> himself. "I gave <strong>the</strong>m my<br />

84

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!