American Lutheranism Vindicated; or, Examination of the Lutheran Symbols, on Certain Disputed Topics - Including a Reply to the Plea of Rev. W. J. Mann by S. S. (Samuel Simon) Schmucker
page 117 of 200 (58%)
page 117 of 200 (58%)
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the Word of God, and then to praise him, to sing and pray to him.
"But this, I say, is not so confined to time, _as ii was among the Jews, that it must be precisely on this or that day; for one day is not better in itself than another, but it should be daily attended to;_ but since the mass of the people cannot attend to it, we should _reserve one day in the week, at least, for this purpose_. Inasmuch, however, as Sunday has been _set apart from of old_ for this purpose, we should therefore let it remain so, that the Sabbath may be observed with _uniformity_, and that no one create disorder through unnecessary innovation." The above testimony of Luther is so distinct and decided, that he certainly would not have approved of the Augsburg Confession if Melancthon had introduced a different doctrine into it. But there was no difference of opinion on this point, between these two luminaries of the church. 2. _Melancthon_, in a letter addressed to Luther from Augsburg, dated July 27, 1530, thus speaks of the Christian Sabbath: "When St. Peter appoints the religious observance of Sunday, I regard this work (the observance of the day) _not as divine worship_, (Gottesdienst, cultus,) but as being attended by bodily advantage, (leiblichen Nutzen,) if the people assemble together on a fixed day." [Note 4] Again, in his _System of Divinity_, or _Loci Theologici_," [Note 5] we find the following unequivocal declaration: "We have, heard above that the Levitical _ceremonies_ are abolished. But the law concerning the Sabbath is a Levitical ceremony, and _St. Paul_ expressly says, Col. ii., Let no one judge you, if you do not observe the Sabbaths," |
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