A New Argument against the Sabbath.
By D. T. Bourdeau
ELD. VICAR, a Baptist preacher, opposed us on the law of God a few nights since, and among other things he claimed that the new man, which was put on at conversion, was immortal, and could not sin; but that the old man was born in sin, and would cling to us till death, and that the new man was not responsible for the deeds of the old man. He compared it to Paul's grafting process, claiming that the scion that was grafted into the tame olive tree did not bear the same fruit that the tame olive tree did!101 Thought I, what a cloak to cover sin, giving the Christian license to sin, while the sinner will have to render a strict account for his evil ways. How unlike the gospel that Paul preached when he taught that the “old man” was put off and crucified when the new man was put on. To our mind, those who preach such a doctrine as expressive of their experience, show clearly that they have never put on the new man, and have never been converted; or, if they have, they have backslidden. And how strange that some would receive such teachings in preference to indorsing the truth! As to Paul's grafting process, it was against nature; the scion of the wild olive tree, when grafted into the tame olive tree, will bear the fruit of that tree. The Gentiles, who are truly converted, will have the law of God written in their hearts, and will carry it out in their lives. Jer. 31: 31, etc. A reference was made to Paul's experience in the 7th chapter of Romans, in which he says that when he would do good, evil was present with him; that it was no more Paul that did evil, but sin that dwelt in him. But Paul, in this chapter, gives his experience in conversion while putting off the old man, “the body of this death,” from which he was delivered when he believed on Christ for pardon, and to obtain strength to fulfill the righteousness of the law, having thoroughly repented of his sins. Read Rom. 7: 7-25; 8:1-4.
D. T. BOURDEAU.