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Some Better Things

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 29, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 48.

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Some Better Things

By Editor

Editorial

To the average man who reads the Bible as he reads any other book, to learn what it says, and not to make it fit a creed, its doctrines are simple and plain. The difficulty comes in trying to harmonize the Word of God with the traditions of men. It requires no argument, and no appeal to custom or church authority, but only the reading of the Bible, to show that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord. All the trouble over the Sabbath question arises from professing to follow the teaching of the Scriptures while actually observing a day which rests upon no divine command. The attempted justification of this course leads to such jugglery with the Word of God as really destroys its authority. If men would be willing to accept the revelation of truth which has been made, and yield obedience to God's requirements, instead of amending and nullifying revelation by the aid of tradition and science, there would be unity of doctrine and practise. “What is written in the law? how readest thou?”

Some Better Things

As compared with the old, which was a covenant of the flesh, the new is “a better covenant, . . . established upon better promises.” The sanctuary in heaven is purified with “better sacrifices” than was the earthly temple. As compared with the earthly Canaan, there is “a better country, that is, an heavenly.” As compared with earthly possessions, the man of faith has “in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” The blood of sprinkling, which is the basis of forgiveness, “speaketh better things than that of Abel,” which demanded vengeance. In view of all these better things, we have “a better hope” than that which depends upon righteousness by works. Everything that the wisdom of a merciful Father could devise has been done for us that “we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” How much better to accept “so great salvation” than to reject it!