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,” (Niemend [sic] soll euch richten, so ihr die Sabbathe nicht haltet;) why then (it may be asked) do you insist so rigidly on this precept?  Answer.  This precept in the words of Moses embraces two things, one common, that is necessary to the church at all times, and a particular day, which concerned only the government of Israel.  The common part (of this precept) is the proper public office (or duty) to preach and to observe the divine ceremonies, which God has at any time enjoyed.  This common precept binds all men; for this honor all rational creatures owe to God, to aid in sustaining the office of preacher, and Christian assemblies, (public worship,) according to the condition and calling of each one, as shall be farther stated hereafter. But the particular part, concerning the seventh day, DOES NOT BIND US:  therefore we hold meetings on the first day and on any other days of the week, as occasion offers.”

Such then being the views of the illustrious reformers, one of whom penned the Augsburg Confession, and the other sanctioned it, we might naturally expect to find them expressed in the Confession itself, which a bare recital of a few passages, will prove to be the case.

And, I. From the Augsburg Confession, Art.  XXVIII.

“And what are we to believe concerning Sunday (the Lord’s day,) and other similar ordinances and ceremonies of the church?  To this inquiry we reply, the bishops and clergy may make regulations, that order may be observed in the church, not with the view of thereby obtaining the grace of God, nor in order thus to make satisfaction for sins, nor to bind the consciences, to hold and regard this as a necessary worship of God, or to believe that they would commit sin if they violated these regulations without offence to others.  Thus St. Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor. xi. 5,) has ordained that women shall have their heads covered in the congregation; also, that ministers should not all speak at the same time in the congregation, but in an orderly manner, one after another.