Here is a great shew of wisdom, and zeal for God, and his cause in the world; calling men so often from their temporal concerns to attend to the duties of religion!  Who can do other than approve it?  Doubtless many have been deceived by appearances, and considered those as wise and good who have done these things.  But this is far from being their character.  These have been the doings of “Antichrist, the Man of sin —­the Son of perdition!  Because of these things cometh the wrath of God, on the children of disobedience!” All these specious measures are no better than Saul’s sacrificing, Uzzah’s steadying the ark, and the use of images in divine worship!  They are opposition to the orders of the Most High, and rebellion against him.

“Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work” —­Whoever takes it on himself to alter this appointment, “thinks to change times and laws;” which was foretold of him who should “speak great words against the Most High.” *

* Daniel vii. 25.

The Lord’s day, is the only day which God hath sanctified under the gospel dispensation.  This infinite wisdom judged sufficient.  Had more been requisite, more would have been consecrated by divine order.  But not a hint of any other holy day is to be found in the New Testament. +

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+ Neither the day of Christ’s birth, death, resurrection or ascension appear to have been regarded as holy time, or any way distinguished from the other days of the year, during the apostolic age.  The former of these is not marked in the scriptures.  Whether it happened on the twentyfifth of December, or at some other season is uncertain.  So are the times in which the apostles and primitive Christians suffered martyrdom.  These events are veiled.  Divine providence hath hidden them from mankind, probably for the same reason that the body of Moses was hidden from Israel—­to prevent its being made an object of idolatrous worship—­or for the same which is supposed to have occasioned our Lord’s seeming neglect of his mother, and his severer reproof given to Peter, than to any other of his disciples—­“Get thee behind me Satan;” namely, that idolatrous honor, which he foresaw would be afterwards paid them by some called Christians.

Easter is once mentioned in our translation of the New Testament; but it is not found in the Greek original.  The word there used is “Pasxa,” the Passover.  It is mentioned only to note the time in which Herod intended to have brought forth Peter and delivered him up to his enemies. *

* Acts xii. 4.

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Occasional calls there may be to fasting and thanksgiving; and we have scripture warrant for attending them in their seasons.  But fixing on certain days of the year, or month, statedly to call men from their secular business to attend to religion, and requiring the consecration of them to religion is adding to the book of God.  However well intended, it goes on mistaken principles, and however specious in appearance, is affronting the wisdom and authority of heaven.