Sinai and Calvary by Jos. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 6, 1870

Sinai and Calvary.

By Jos. Clarke

“HERE are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 12.

There is a very intimate connection between the law of God and the work of Jesus, our great high priest; for it is clear that the law of God is the means of convicting the sinner; and it is clear that Jesus Christ alone offers pardon.

So intimate is the relationship between the law and gospel, that he who proclaims the one, must of necessity be deeply imbued with the spirit of the other; else he will fail of inculcating the true principles of right. He who proclaims the law without a distinct and feeling delineation of the gospel, will probably become harsh and forbidding, perhaps repulsive; while he who proclaims the gospel without a distinct and full enunciation of the moral law, will become lax in his moral tone, and his standard will trail in the dust.

To run into extremes is the weakness of our nature. When we see men working with great zeal against the law of God, we are in danger of losing the love and tenderness of the gospel. When we are opposed in our attempts to convince our neighbors and friends of the validity of the moral law, we are in danger of feeling indignant, in view of the crooked course of error and heresy.

To unite the principles of justice and mercy, to unite the spirit and principles of Sinai and Calvary, is the greatest triumph of Christianity. To be firm and true to the principles contained in the moral law, with the melting tenderness of Jesus Christ as he groaned upon the cross—this requires more than mortal wisdom.

To return blessing for cursing, good for evil, love for hate, tears for sneers, this is the needed wisdom; instead of which, man in his weakness is in danger of desiring to call down the anger of Heaven upon the impious blasphemer, instead of being filled with sorrow and pity, as was our Saviour when he wept over the fated city, Jerusalem. See Matt. 23: 37.

JOS. CLARKE.