Page:The Parable of Creation.djvu/167

Rh Sunday or Friday, to keep it holy." There is no allusion, indeed, to the week in any way. It is simply said, "Six day shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath—that is the rest—of the Lord thy God." We are to keep one day in seven in commemoration of the grand celestial institution of a perfect regeneration for man. Any natural day will do so long as a seventh day is kept. But as its uses would be immeasurably decreased by every individual setting for himself a different day, it is palpably right for the common consent of the church to decide the question.

Sabbath means rest. Sabbath day is rest day. It means that as the seventh state of regeneration is complete rest from selfishness and worldliness, and a perfect surrender to the Lord, a regular recurring seventh day must be kept in memory of that fact. At that time we must rest, as much as possible, from worldly business, from worldly thoughts, from worldly schemes, in order that we may worship the Lord, reflect upon spiritual things, learn spiritual truths, and form resolutions of spiritual life. This is a rest from the world and self that helps us on toward heaven. The Sabbath was given for the spiritual benefit of man. Is it wicked then to break the Sabbath? It is not a question of sin. It is simply this: that they who do not keep the