The Seventh Part of Time Theory

Lyman Coleman, a first-day historian, thus states the promulgation of the modern opinion:ChSa 136.3

“The true doctrine of the Christian Sabbath was first promulgated by an English dissenter, the Revelation Nicholas Bound, D. D., of Norton, in the county of Suffolk. About the year 1595 he published a famous book, entitled ‘Sabbathum Veteris et Novi Testamenti,’ or the ‘True Doctrine of the Sabbath.’ In this book he maintained ‘that the seventh part of our time ought to be devoted to God; thatChSa 136.4

Christians are bound to rest on the Lord’s day as much as the Jews were on the Mosaic Sabbath, the commandment about rest being moral and perpetual. And that it was not lawful for persons to follow their studies or worldly business on that day, nor to use such pleasures and recreations as are permitted on other days.’ This book spread with wonderful rapidity. The doctrine which it propounded called forth from many hearts a ready response, and the result was a most pleasing reformation in many parts of the kingdom. ‘It is almost incredible,’ says Fuller, ‘how taking this doctrine was, partly because of its own purity, and partly for the eminent piety of such persons as maintained it; So that the Lord’s day, especially in corporations, began to be precisely kept; people becoming a law unto themselves, forbearing such sports as yet by statutes permitted; yea, many rejoicing at their own restraint herein.’”-Coleman’s Ancient Christianity Exemplified, chapter 26, section 2.ChSa 137.1

This new doctrine “spread with wonderful rapidity,” and has since been substantially adopted by many of the Protestant churches, but not by all. It is now the popular doctrine of the change of the Sabbath which is generally held. Scattered hints of this doctrine in parts have been held before by a few; but it had never been put forth as a whole in the form of a system. During some fourteen centuries of first-day Sabbath agitation, such a doctrine had never been promulgated. The Christian Fathers, to whom Sunday elevation is remotely traced, never heard of such a doctrine. The change they wrought was for an entirely different reason. It was founded upon “custom,” “tradition,” “voluntary choice,” but never upon any Bible authority, never upon the fourth commandment.ChSa 137.2