Law Against Tradition by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 2, 1869

Law Against Tradition.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, in giving what he thought would work a great reformation in the world, and unite all Christians, gives this important consideration among the rest, “Let the positive commands of God be substituted for human legislation and tradition.” Christian System, p. 110.

This, indeed, is a most excellent plan, and the only true basis of reformation; and while the plain requirements and laws of God’s word are set aside to obey human traditions, a thorough and complete reformation cannot be effected. But how hard a thing this is to accomplish. Mr. Campbell himself, with all his zeal for the Bible, and the Bible only, failed to do this; and his disciples persistently follow in his steps. His teachings and his opinion have become just as effectually a creed which his followers receive as that written out at Geneva, or Westminster.

One of the plainest commandments of God, the one relating to the Sabbath, he utterly ignores, and in its place substitutes his so called Lord’s day, which rests wholly, and only, upon human legislation and tradition, the very thing he so loudly condemns. His followers are just as much wedded to this tradition, thus received and confirmed by him, as other sects are to written creeds. D. M. CANRIGHT. Sigourney, Sept. 28.