dy been established. The 2d question is, did our Lord
ever trifle with, or mislead his disciples? The response is No! Then it
is clear that if he taught them to pray at all, it must be in faith, and
he of course would hear them and mediate with the Father to change the
day of their flight. I ask what kind of a prayer and with what kind of
faith would his disciples have asked to have this day changed, if as we
are told, it was abolished some forty years before, and they had,
contrary to the will of God, persisted in keeping up this seventh day
Sabbath. Any one who has confidence in God's word, knows that such a
prayer never would be answered. What if you do say the Jews always kept
that Sabbath, and it was the same seventh day Sabbath which they kept
when he was teaching them in their synagogues? I, say so too! (and that
fact will be presented by and by, in its place.) This does not touch the
point. Jesus was here giving instructions to his [26]followers, both
Jew and Gentile, respecting _the_ Sabbath which they would have to do
with. It is immaterial what kind of sophistry is presented to overthrow
the point, nothing can touch it short of proving it a mistranslation.
Jesus did here recognize the perpetuity of the _seventh day Sabbath_.
And John will continue to make all men liars that say they know him and
refuse the light presented and disregard this commandment. If God
instituted the Sabbath in Paradise and has not abolished it here, then
must it be _perpetual_? If Paul's argument in iii. Rom. that the law is
established through faith, is correct then is it _perpetual_. If James'
royal _perfect law_ of liberty, which we are to be doers of, and judged
by, means the commandments, then is the Sabbath _perpetual_. If the
Apostle John has made out a clear case, by citing us back to the
_beginning_ of creation, and by _walking_ in and doing these
commandments, we shall have right to the tree of life and enter in by
the gates into the city; then it _must be perpetual_. If the earthly
Sabbath is typical of the heavenly, then must it be _perpetual_. If not
one jot or one tittle can ever pass from the law, then must it be
_perpetual_. If the Saviour, in answer to the young man who asked him
what he should do to inherit _eternal life_, gave a safe direction for
Gentiles to follow, viz: "If thou wilt enter into _life_ keep the
commandments (and these included those commandments which his Father had
given), then, without _contradict