The Day of Rest

Ellet J. Waggoner

The Present Truth | September 7, 1893

THE editor of the Shorthand Temperance News (Belfast) has sent us a kindly letter, of which the following is a copy, with the exception of the omission of a personal explanation at the close: —

Allow me to offer a humble suggestion to obviate the difficulty experienced on such a momentous, vital, and burning question as the observance of the Lord’s Day. It might facilitate the clearer exposition of God’s written word on the subject, if I were to quote some passages: “and rested the seventh day” (Ex. 20:11; Lev. 19:30; 26:2) show that it was more than a rest the Sabbath was made for; to reverence God’s sanctuary; to show in deed and truth that God was the Lord, the ruler and maker of the universe. We ought therefore to know that “some” regular rest was observed heretofore. Under the new dispensation manners and customs have completely changed. The Jews kept, we know, the “seventh” day, and yet after all, were they found on the right side—honoring their Lord and Master, who redeemed them from sin and wickedness, and the power and snare of the Evil One? Facing that indisputable fact in this nineteenth century, can we not lay higher claim on the first day of the week as being the Christian Sabbath, free from the contaminating influences of such displeasing recollections in the history of the world, and raise our ebenezer to Him who washed us in His own blood, and made us whiter than snow, on this very day of the week which Christians have since observed as the day appointed wherein to worship, praise, and magnify God, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords? Is there one single argument to the contrary whereby we can change a custom, which has stood the test for centuries?

Until I find a church or sect, established on more high and deep-rooted principles of practical religion, I shall continue in my assertion (although I do not say that anybody is wrong) that we are keeping the day appointed, according to the teachings of the Scriptures, as one whole day out of the seven, and it is only right we should give the first fruits of our labors unto the Lord, when we give the first day of the week upon which we enter in laboring for the bread that perishes.

           Yours sincerely,

           ROBERT M’MASTER,

           Editor “The Shorthand Temperance News.”

           Belfast, August 18, 1893.

We are always glad to receive communications upon any subject treated of in PRESENT TRUTH. Our only desire is for the truth, and so we welcome anything that has truth for its object, and pray for grace rightly to receive all criticism; and believing that others are as desirous for truth as we are, we take it that they will be pleased if we reason with them out of the Scriptures. Let it be understood always that man is to live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”; and that as His word contains everything necessary to make a man “wise unto salvation,” and to make him “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:15-17) everything that has not express warrant of His word, is sin. To do that which God has not commanded is sin, the same as not to do that which He has commanded. 

Our friend well says that the matter of the day of rest is a “momentous, vital, and burning