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OUR RELATION TO THE DEITY.

[Part 1.

greater event, the consummation of the work of man’s redemp-tion. The change in the day could not, from the nature of thecase, be made, until the event had occurred which it was tocommemorate. We may well conclude, moreover, that our

X. The term Sunday is more generally used by Christians to designate theday than any other, and uniformity in this respect is a matter of considerableconvenience, and therefore importance. It is used by the Roman CatholicChurch, by the established Church of England, by the Protestant EpiscopalChurch in the United States, and by the Lutheran Church in the UnitedStates and in Germany. A most respectable Methodist clergyman informsme, that this term is most generally used by the numerous denominationto which he belongs. The use of the other terms prevails somewhat ex-tensively among Christians of other denominations among us. And yet,from the phrase u American Sunday School Union ” in this country, whichis chiefly under the direction of Presbyterians and Congregationalists, but isintended to unite all denominations in advancing its objects, and from otherfacts and circumstances known to me, I am disposed to conclude, that Sundayis more generally used, even by these numerous denominations, than either ofthe other terms above mentioned. It is believed, that more than three fourthsof the entire population of the United States habitually use the term Sunday.

2. In examining the several terms from which a choice is to be made to de-signate the Christian day of sacred rest, no term seems, on the whole, to be soappropriate as Sunday. St. John calls it “ the Lord’s day ” (Revelation, i. 10),and this term is therefore very suitable and proper; but it is not at present, if itever has been, much used. The phrase, “ the first day of the week,” is objec-tionable, by reason of its inconvenient length. This reason applies, too, insome degree, to the use of the phrase, “ the Lord’s day.” The term Sabbath prop-erly belongs to Judaism, and the tendency of using it is, to convey an erroneousimpression, and to confound Christianity too much with Judaism. Bishop Whitesays, “ In the primitive church, the term * Sabbatizing ’ carried with it the re-proach of a leaning to the abrogated observance of the law.” (Lectures on theCatechism, p. 65.) The phrase, lt Christian Sabbath,” applied by analogy tothe day, has no advantage over the term Sunday , and is less convenient fromits length.

3. It can be no just objection to the term Sunday , that it is of heathen origin,as long, at least, as we continue to instruct our children in the classical (heath-en) writers of antiquity. “ The early Christians,” says Bishop White again,“conformed to the custom of their heathen neighbours, in the calling of thedays and the months.” (Ibid.) In truth, it began to be used very early by theprimitive Christians. Justin Martyr, who lived at the close of the first and thebeginning of the second century, says, “ On the day called Sunday , is an as-sembly of all who live in the city or country, and the memoirs of the apostlesand the writings of the prophets are read. (Sermons on the Lord’s Day, byDaniel Wilson. London, 1831. p. 110.)

The term Sunday , then, has the considerable advantage of uniformity; itconveys no erroneous impression; it is easily pronounced; no just objectioncan be urged against its use; and it has the sanction of primitive Christianantiquity.