SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SABBATH.
By Orlando Soule
“There is something more important than the Sabbath,” said a Methodist presiding elder, who feared some of his flock were becoming interested in this important subject. He said in his opening remarks that there was no Scripture evidence for first-day observance, and also that the church was very corrupt. Now put these two acknowledgments together. The churches keep Sunday without Scripture authority; they are very corrupt. What makes them so? Is it not because they are “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men?” Matt. 15:9. Again, he said that the first day of the week should be observed because Christ rose from the dead on that day; but afterward he concluded that all that was required of us was to keep a seventh part of time. Is it a fact that we are to keep the resurrection day, and yet a seventh part of time is all that is demanded of us? Was Christ raised from the dead on a seventh part of time, and no day in particular? Or can we celebrate the resurrection of Christ on simply one day in seven? One of these theories devours the other. O consistency, thou art a treasure. Finally, as a closing argument, he said there was something more important than talking about the Sabbath; repentance, for example. Now what can be more important than to obey the Lord? Nothing; for “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” 1 Sam. 15:22. But admitting that we are to preach repentance, what is the first step to be taken? If we follow the example of the prophets, or of Christ and his apostles, it will be to show men their sins. And how shall that be done? “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Paul says, “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3:20. “I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Rom. 7:7. Thus the man who preaches Bible repentance is obliged to set before the sinner at the very beginning the law of God, which is as a great mirror, into which he may look and see his defects. Has the Lord ever abolished one of these commandments? No. He commanded his covenant “to a thousand generations.” 1 Chron. 16:15. Has Christ? No. Luke 16:17: “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” Have the apostles? No; Rom. 3:31; Jas. 2:8–11; John 5:2, 3; Acts 25:8. Then it is not changed at all; and one of the first things to be held up before the sinner is God’s sanctified rest-day; yet the cry is, “There is something vastly more important than the Sabbath.” Are not these the priests that cause many to stumble at the law? Mal. 2:7–9: “The priests’ lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law, . . . saith the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.”
ORLANDO SOULE.