Sabbath Historical Highlights

It is all old wives' fables to talk of the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day. If it be changed, it was that august personage changed it who changes times and laws ex officio - I think his name is DOCTOR ANTICHRIST.

- Alexander Campbell

My object is to place this subject in a clear and Scriptural light, and to show that in regard to a Sabbath, which is on all hands allowed to be of such vast importance to man, there exists no such apostolic example; that no civil or ecclesiastical authority, however great, can be binding on the consciences of men like the express command of God; and that he has instituted the Seventh day, with a view to its universal and perpetual observance by mankind.

There was little more of Religion in Acts or Votes till March 12, when it was resolved, that a late book offering the observation of the Jewish Sabbath, and condemning the observation of the Lord's Day as the Christian Sabbath, as erroneous, scandalous, and profane, contrary to the practice of the Apostles and all the Christian churches, and should be therefore burnt, and the Author and Printer punished.

The condition of the Sabbatarians was dreadful. . .Their books and writings had to be delivered to the Karlsburg Consistory to become the spoils of flames ...

- Adolf Dux, Aus Ungarn, pp. 289-291. Leipzig, 1850

We are informed that some people in different districts of the kingdom, partly through the weakness of their own natural mind, partly through the deception of the devil, have adopted and observed such holy days as neither God nor his holy church has agreed to or ordained, but such as are directly against God and his saints,— especially Saturday-keeping, which the Jews and pagans, but not Christians, are accustomed to keep. It is severely forbidden — in holy church canon —one and all to observe days or introduce new days excepting those which the holy Pope, archbishop, or the bishops command. Sunday is sacred.

He holds strictly to the doctrine of the Sabbath, because it is one of the ten commandments ...

This American society, however, had several institutions, particularly characteristic of it; for example, the celebration of the seventh day of the week as a day of rest. Zinzendorf had always observed the Sabbath as much as possible, devoted it to prayer and abstained from heavy labor as much as possible.

The Adventists are the only body of Christians with the Bible as their teacher, who can find no warrant in its pages for the change of day from the Seventh to the First. Hence their appellation, "Seventh-Day Adventists." Their cardinal principle consists in setting apart Saturday for the exclusive worship of God, in conformity with the positive command of God Himself, repeatedly reiterated in the Sacred Books of the Old and New Testament, literally obeyed by the Children of Israel for thousands of years to this day, and endorsed by the teaching and practice of the Son of God whilst on earth.

- James Cardinal Gibbons 1895

Asked the Big Spirit for help, and in answer to his plea he began receiving visions.

Received Visions Which Left Him Breathless (like Daniel 10:17) 

In these visions he was taught many things, including abstaining from eating unclean meats, the Seventh-Day Sabbath, and prayer.

Angels taught him songs and multi-part harmony so they could sing as a choir. One of the songs they learned in English was "Shall we Gather at the River."

They have preserved the Bible in its purity; and their doctrines are, as far as the author knows, the doctrines of the Bible. Besides, they maintain the solemn observance of Christian worship, throughout our Empire, on the seventh day;

[The early Christians] observed the Sabbath in the most conscientious manner: otherwise, they would have been stoned. Instead of this, we learn from the book of the Acts that at times they were highly respected even by that part of their own nation that remained in unbelief.... That the observance of Sunday commenced among them would be a supposition which would have no seeming ground for it, and all probability against it.... The Sabbath was a strong tie which united them with the life of the whole people, and in keeping the Sabbath holy, they followed not only the example, but also the command of Jesus.

Casting out from it the memory of Sunday the seventh," and restoring the delightful law of the Sabbath [Sabado], that of the will of the Creator.

- Evangelio de Que Responde Ante la Nacion el Ciudadano Francisco Ramos Mexia

At this time, Hung prohibited the use of opium, and even tobacco, and all intoxicating drinks, and the Sabbath was religiously observed ...

While in Soo-chow I became one of the congregation of Ti-pings during their performance of divine service on Sunday. The Sabbath is observed not upon the same day as in Europe, theirs being the Saturday of our reckoning. My interpreter was with me, and translated every part of their service. Their numbers, and apparent devotion could not have been objected to by the most orthodox Christian.

. . .it will surely be far safer to observe the seventh day, according to the express commandment of God, than on the authority of mere human conjecture, to adopt the first.

…you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify ...

- Cardinal James Gibbons, Faith of Our Fathers, 1879

The Scots in this matter had no doubt kept up the traditional practice of the ancient monastic Church of Ireland, which observed Saturday rather than Sunday as the day of rest.

- Alphons Bellesheim, 1887, History of the Catholic Church of Scotland: From the Introduction ..., Volume 1, 1887

The current notion that Christ and His Apostles authoritatively substituted the first day of the week for the seventh is absolutely without any authority in the New Testament.

- Lyman Abbott

When they read the Bible, they found in it many beliefs and practices which Christianity had not accepted or maintained. . . the non-followers of David came to Judaism, to Sabbatarianism. The one who consciously undertook this further deed and became the founder of the Bavarian Sabbatarianism was a nobleman from Egendorf: Andreas Eössi . . . the owner of extensive land areas. . .

- Allgemeine Zeitung. Beilage zur Allgemeinen Zeitung. 1892

Once more, the Bible apologists, for the change of day, call our attention to the Acts, 20th chapter, 6th and 7th verses: "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread," etc. To all appearances, the above text should furnish some consolation to our disgruntled Biblical friends, but thing a Marplot, we cannot allow them even this crumb of comfort. We reply by the axiom: "Quod probat nimis, probat nihil." "What proves too much, proves nothing." Let us call attention to the same Acts, 2nd chapter, 46th verse: "And they, continuing daily in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house," etc. Who does not see at a glance, that the text produced to prove the exclusive prerogative of Sunday, vanishes into thing air ...