[FONT="]The first day of the week was mentioned several times in the New Testament, but no where under the idea of a Sabbath, but in plain distinction from it. It is often pled that the Apostles met on the first day of the week, and therefore they think the Sabbath was changed; and no doubt that some people have heard this said so many times, that they think the New Testament is quite full of it, and that it was the constant practice of the Apostles to meet for worship on that day. But the fact is, we have no account of but two meeting on the first day of the week, and each of them was on a special occasion.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The first was on the evening following the extraordinary event of Christs rising from the dead, and the other was when Paul was about to depart on the morrow. These two are all the meetings that we have any account of on the first day of the week in the New Testament, and but one of them in the day time. We will now look for a few meetings on the seventh day of the week, which was called the Sabbath, and see how the disciples followed the directions and example of Christ. Immediately after Barnabas and Paul was separated to the work of traveling preachers, we have the following account of them, Acts 13-14. They came to Antioch and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down, and after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, Paul having liberty from the rulers of the synagogue preached Christ unto those who were present at that meeting, who were both Jews and Gentiles. So you see the Gentiles kept the Sabbath as well as the Jews, and they all met together to hear the law and the prophets, as though they were equally concerned in that matter, which no doubt they were, although many think the Gentiles had nothing to do with the Jews religion. But remember, at the close of that meeting, verse 42d the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now you see this Sabbath was the seventh day of the week, because it was the day that the unbelieving Jews met to read the law, and the Gentiles desired t hear the same words the next Sabbath. What, the Gentiles keep the Sabbath! Yes, the Gentiles desired to hear these words the next Sabbath! But did not the Gentiles say, let us hear these words again to-morrow, on our new Sabbath. Or why did not Paul and Barnabas say, it is our practice to meet on the first day of the week, which is to-morrow, come ye therefore, and hear us on our new Sabbath. But nothing of this kind is heard from any of them, and it really seems as though they had never heard of such a thing, and I really believe they never had, for we hear nothing more about meetings or reaching till the next Sabbath, and then, away came the Jews and Gentiles all together to meeting again, as we see verse 44. And the next Sabbath came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God, and then Paul preached again. But the Jews raised a persecution against them, and they fled to Iconium. And the next thing we hear about them is, Acts 14-1. And they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great number, both of the Jews and also of the Greeks, believed. Here we find Jews and Gentiles all met together again, and no doubt it was on the seventh day or the Jews would not have been there, and a glorious meeting it was, for a great multitude believed. O what a blessing and privilege was the Sabbath day, even under the gospel dispensation ! But again, Paul and Barnabas in their travels came to Philippi, one of the chief cities of Macedonia, Acts 16, 12-13. And we were in that city abiding certain days, and on the Sabbath day, we went out of the city by a river-side, where prayer was wont to be made. There it appears they had another happy meeting. Thus we see, how particular they were to have a meeting, when the Sabbath day came, for there they abode a number of days, and nothing is said about meeting till the Sabbath day come and then they were immediately off to meeting. But still, perhaps, some may think this Sabbath was the first day of the week ; should any be in doubt on this ground, we will just turn over to the next chapter and wee what is said there, Acts 17, 1-2. They came to Thessalonia where was a synagogue of the Jews, and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures. Now by this we see what day of the week was called the Sabbath. It appears it was the same day of the week that the unbelieving Jews kept, and we are all sensible that that was the seventh. But perhaps one will say, how do you know these were unbelieving Jews ? Answer, because in the 4th and 5th verses we are told that by Pauls preaching, at that some, some of them become believers, and the rest were moved with envy ; &c. and at that time, we must take notice, that not only some of the Jews believed, but of the Greeks a great multitude. Here we see again, Jews and Gentiles all keeping the Sabbath together, differing as much as they would in other things, yet they seem to be all agreed in keeping the seventh day Sabbath, although it was so many years after the time, that people say the Sabbath was changed to the first day of the week; but nothing of this kind appears as yet. Had these meetings been on the first day of the week, no doubt it would have been called the first day of the week, as you see it was in Acts, 20-7. And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow. So you see the first day of the week is called the first day of the week, but the seventh day is called the Sabbath, and this one is the only time that we have any account of, in the New Testament, that the disciples met together on the first day of the week, except that evening after Christ rose from the dead. But remember Acts 17-2. Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them and, three Sabbath days, reasoned with them out of the scriptures. Here we are told plainly, what Pauls manner or custom was, and it looks to me, just like following the directions and example of our Saviour before mentioned ; for as Christs custom was, so Pauls manner was. But, lest you should still doubt whether Paul really meant to keep the seventh day, I will mention one scripture more. Acts, 18, 2-3. After Paul had preached at Athens, and come to Corinth, he found there, a man and his wife, who were tent makers, and because he was of the same craft, he above with them and wrought ; and we see by the 11th verse that he continued there a year and six months. Here we find Paul laboring with his hands, not only administering to his necessities, but likewise setting an example for believers and preachers. But take particular notice, that, during this eighteen months labor, verse 4, we are told that he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath day. Here then, it appears plainly, that Paul kept the seventh day for a Sabbath, for he continued there at labor, making tents, for the space of seventy-eight weeks together, and during the whole time he went to meeting every seventh day, and nothing is said about having any meetings, on the first day, during all this time. Now you that suppose that the circumstance of the Apostles meeting together twice on the first day of the week, on particular occasions, is a precedent, sufficient to establish the practice of keeping that day, I want you to remember, in future, that we have a particular account of 84 meetings at least, that the Apostles had on the seventh day of the week, so that if we may take the example of the Apostles for a rule, you must remember, that we have a majority of forty-two to one at least, in favor of the seventh day. And now, who is he, that can think that the Apostles kept the first day. But one, perhaps will say, it was not because they meant to keep the seventh day in preference to any other, that they so often met on that day, but because the Jews made a practice of meeting on that day, the Apostles availed themselves of that opportunity to spread the gospel among them.[/FONT]
[FONT="] As to the first part of this preposition, it is utterly impossible for you to make it out, that they had no preference to the seventh day Sabbath; but, as to their availing themselves of that opportunity to spread the gospel, they surely did, and a most excellent opportunity it was. By this we may easily see, if we have so much as half an eye left, of what great importance and utility the Sabbath was, even under the gospel dispensation ; and it is no wonder that the Apostles so strictly observed it. Now it really appears to me to be an opportunity of too much importance to be done away ; and it looks to be not consistent with the mercy and wisdom of God, that so good an opportunity should be done away, for no doubt, the opportunity be as much blessed now, as it was then, were the people as well agreed in it now, as Jews and Gentiles were in the Apostolic age. It was an opportunity and an ordinance that was owned and blessed of God, in the conversation of thousands. He blessed and sanctified it, at the creation of the world. He promulgated it under the Mosaic dispensation, and he owned and blessed it under the Gospel dispensation. Christ kept it Holy during his life on earth, and charged his disciples to remember it, that is, he told them to pray that their flight be not on it, which flight was forty years after his death, which they could not do without remembering it.[/FONT]
The Apostles remembers his word and example and strictly observed the Sabbath, and Paul, in particular, followed the blessed example, and finally left on record, for our instruction, these memorable expressions, 1 Cor. 11.-1 Be ye therefore followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. And again, Philippians 3.-17. Bretheren, be followers together of me, and mark them, which walk so as ye have us for an example. We see by the above mentioned Scriptures, how Paul followed Christ, and what his example was. Let us, therefore, now embrace the Apostles exhortation, and follow him as he followed Christ, and like him, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
