Part 25 (2/2)

Through all the dark centuries, the Lord had somewhere a little remnant keeping the light of the Sabbath truth glowing. They, too, overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, loving not their lives unto the death. Now, with the clear light s.h.i.+ning from the open Book, it is for Christians everywhere to turn from tradition to the way of G.o.d's commandments and the example of Jesus Christ.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

”Closing Sabbath! Ah, how soon Have thy sacred moments pa.s.sed!”]

FOOTNOTES:

[F] In connection with this topic of Sabbath observance in colonial America, it is of interest to note that Count Zinzendorf, the leader of the Moravian missionary movement, was a believer in the sanct.i.ty of the Sabbath of G.o.d's appointment. In his life, by Bishop Spangenberg, it is stated that the Sabbath question was discussed by Zinzendorf with the Moravians, on his visit to Pennsylvania in 1741. The record states:--

”As a special circ.u.mstance it is to be remarked that he determined, with the church in Bethlehem, to celebrate the seventh day as a rest day. The matter was previously fully gone over in the church council, with consideration of all the reasons for and against it, when the unanimous agreement was reached to observe the day Sabbatically.... The Count had already long held the seventh day of the week in special honor.”--_Zinzendorfs ”Leben,” band 5, pp. 1421, 1422._

The Bethlehem congregation evidently did not follow the practice long.

”But as for himself,” says Spangenberg, ”with his house, he adhered firmly to this aforementioned practice until his end.”--_Id., p. 1437._

THE LAW OF G.o.d

I

Thou shalt have no other G.o.ds before me.

II

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything: that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy G.o.d am a jealous G.o.d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

III

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy G.o.d in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

IV

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy G.o.d: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

V

Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy G.o.d giveth thee.

VI

Thou shalt not kill.

VII

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

VIII

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