In Eden, God set up the memorial of His work of creation, in placing His blessing upon the seventh day. The Sabbath was committed to Adam, the father and representative of the whole human family. Its observance was to be an act of grateful acknowledgment, on the part of all who should dwell upon the earth, that God was their Creator and their rightful Sovereign; that they were the work of His hands and the subjects of His authority. Thus the institution was wholly commemorative, and given to all mankind. There was nothing in it shadowy or of restricted application to any people.

Ved at udøse sin velsignelse over den syvende dag satte Gud i Edens have et mindesmærke over sit skaberværk. Sabbaten blev overgivet Adam som fader til og repræsentant for hele den menneskelige familie. Hos alle, der kom til at bo på jorden, skulle helligholdelsen af den være en taknemmlig erkendelse af, at Gud var deres skaber og deres retmæssige herre, og at de var hans hænders værk og undergivet hans myndighed. Således skulle den være et stadigt minde, beregnet på hele menneskeheden. Den skulle ikke betragtes som en skygge af noget andet, og den var ikke begrænset til et bestemt folk.