the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Bible Dictionaries
Holy Day
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary
A day set apart by the church for the commemoration of some saint, or some remarkable particular in the life of Christ. It has been a question agitated by divines, whether it be proper to appoint or keep any holy days (the Sabbath excepted.) The advocates for holy days suppose that they have a tendency to impress the minds of the people with a greater sense of religion; that if the acquisitions and victories of men be celebrated with the highest joy, how much more those events which relate to the salvation of man, such as the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ, &c. On the other side it is observed, that if holy days had been necessary under the present dispensation, Jesus Christ would have observed something respecting them, whereas he was silent about them; that it is bringing us again into that bondage to ceremonial laws from which Christ freed us; that it is a tacit reflection on the Head of the church in not appointing them; that such days, on the whole, are more pernicious than useful to society, as they open a door for indolence and profaneness; yea, that Scripture speaks against such days, Galatians 4:9-11 . Cave's Prim. Christ; Nelson's Fasts and Feasts; Robinson's History and Mystery of Good Friday, and Lectures on Nonconformity; A country Vicar's Sermon on Christmas day, 1753; Brown's Nat. and Rev. Relig. p. 535; Neale's History of the Puritans, vol. 2: p. 116. qu.
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Buck, Charles. Entry for 'Holy Day'. Charles Buck Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​cbd/​h/holy-day.html. 1802.