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Pardon without Conviction

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 23, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 44, No. 2.

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Pardon without Conviction.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

SEVENTH-DAY Adventists have always argued that pardon without conviction is a nullity; and that, therefore, a gospel or remedial system based on the abolition of the law would be subversive of justice. Lately we have had the subject illustrated before us, and a judicial decision given in regard to it, such as we never expected to see.
The office of governor has been claimed by two persons in Louisiana, each endeavoring to discharge the duties of the office in spite of the other. Several persons were arrested for crime, and while awaiting trial, one of the would-be governors, to magnify his office and to prove his authority, issued a pardon to the criminals. When the matter was brought before the court, it was readily decided that the pardon was without effect, as the persons had not yet been convicted by process of law, and were not yet subjects of pardon.
This decision was not only reasonable, but unavoidable; and it seems a marvel that any one claiming the office of governor should be so ignorant as not to see that his pretended pardon was no better than a farce.
But if we are astonished at his course, what shall we think of that large number of preachers who proclaim pardon in the gospel on the very same principle? They forestall conviction by proclaiming the abolition of the law, and then offer pardon to those who, as they claim, are beyond the jurisdiction of the law!
Paul says that Jesus Christ was set forth as a propitiation to the end that God may be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. Rom. 3 : 23–26. If the principles of justice shall be regarded in the high court of Heaven, and who dare say they will not? all these claims of pardon, based on a denial of the authority of law, will be thrown out as illegal, and a nullity.
It is much to be feared that in that day when every work is brought into judgment, when Jesus the Son of God is judge, and God’s law the rule of judgment, see Rom. 2 : 12, 16, many decisions rendered on earth will be reversed. And many, very many pardons offered by those who disregard the claims of the law and of justice will be set aside as invalid. See Matt. 7 : 21–23.
Now justice calls, and mercy lingers. Soon mercy will be withdrawn, and justice be meted out to the fullest extent. To stand in that day,we must “honor all the name” of God—in his justice and his mercy—by “keeping the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” J. H. WAGGONER.