Was It Negligence? by Epsilon

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 12, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 11.

Was It Negligence?

By Epsilon

THE apostles plainly teach that at the resurrection of the anointed there was a change in the priesthood, and of necessity a change in the law regarding priesthood.

But in regard to the ten commandments, neither Christ nor his disciples taught a change or abrogation. On the contrary, "Whosoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven." Matt. 5:19. Paul declares that "what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world [not Jews only] may become guilty before God." Rom. 3:19. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20. He also teaches that we do not make void the law through faith in Jesus, but we really establish it. Rom. 3:31. John says plainly that "sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. And Paul says in another place, "The strength of sin is the law." 1 Cor. 15:56. These sacred writers are careful to teach that although Christ has been made a curse for us, having died on the cross, yet we are not permitted to continue to be violators of the law, but should even go beyond its mere letter and obey its spirit.

Notwithstanding all this plainness of Scripture, many Sunday-keepers teach that a change was made by Christ in the fourth commandment, and to keep this commandment properly, we must make the first day of the week the Sabbath. But the sacred writers have not informed us of any such change. Was it negligence?

These writers call the seventh day "the Sabbath," or "the Sabbath day," and nowhere call it the Jewish Sabbath. Was it negligence?

No one can deny that the seventh day was the Lord's day up to the first advent of our Saviour; but we are nowhere informed that "the Sabbath of the Lord" is no longer the Lord's day. Nor are we anywhere informed that the first day of the week is anything more than "the first day of the week."

The sacred writers do not inform us that the Jews who falsely accused our Redeemer of violating the Sabbath, afterwards accused his disciples of violating it; nor that they objected to the Christians on the ground that they kept a rival Christian Sabbath. Was it negligence?

"But," says some Sunday-keeper, "we have never said the sacred writers were negligent." No, you have never used such words. But suppose some man does not say to you or any other person that you are a thief, but he takes the liberty to search your premises,—do not actions speak louder than words?

EPSILON.