Question 64

And was it observed before the giving of the law?

Yes. Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath,^b

Was it particularly enforced upon the Israelites?

Yes. I gave them my Sabbaths,^c

And that in commemoration of their delivery out of Egypt?

Yes. Remember that thou wast a servant in Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out from thence, therefore he commanded thee to keep the Sabbath-day,^d

But is it obligator yon Christians?

Yes. Pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath-day,^e

But had Christ a power to alter it?

Yes. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath-day,^g

Is such an alteration hinted at in the Old Testament?

Yes. It shall be that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt-offerings, etc., and I will accept you, saith the Lord God.^h*

And did it actually take place after Christ’s resurrection?

Yes. For on the first day of the week, the disciples came together to break bread,ⁱ

And does their example carry in it, the force of a command?

Yes. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me,^j

And did he then rest from his labours?

Yes. He ceased from his own works, as God did from his,^l

Did he honour this day with his presence?

Yes. The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, came Jesus, and stood in the midst,^m

And did he renew his visit the next first day?

Yes. After eight days, when the disciples were within and Thomas with them, came Jesus,^n†

And was this a mark of his approbation?

Yes. For he meeteth them that remember him in his ways,^o

Did the Spirit bestow his extraordinary gifts on this day?

Yes. For it was on the day of Pentecost, which was the morrow after the seventh day,^q

Does he on it confer his special grace?

Yes. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,^r

And was this a public and not a private collection?

Yes. That there be no gatherings when I come.^t‡

Is their practice then a rule?

Yes. Ye became followers of the churches of Christ,^u

And celebrate a more eminent deliverance than that of the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Yes. The days come that they shall no more say, the Lord liveth which brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt,^w

Should we therefore join with our fellow Christians in keeping this day?

Yes. For if any man will be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of Christ,^x

But is not this a direct breach of the fourth commandment?

No. For that only says, Six days shalt thou labour, but the seventh (i.e. the day following the sixth) is the sabbath,^y

If the matter was more disputable than it is, should not the superior advantage of keeping the first day in the present circumstances of things have some weight?

Yes. For the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath,^z