“PERPETUAL BINDING OBLIGATION.”
By G.
ONE of the resolutions adopted by the National Reform Conference at St. Louis is as follows:— Resolved, That the Sabbath is of divine authority and of perpetual binding obligation upon all individuals and peoples, and that its proper observance is absolutely essential to the permanency and moral life of any nation. Yes, “the Sabbath is of divine authority;” for after the six days of creation, God “rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Gen. 2:2, 3. The Fourth Commandment is further evidence that “the Sabbath [the seventh day] is of divine authority.” And furthermore Jesus Christ testifies that “the Sabbath [the seventh day] was made for man,” and that He is the Lord of it. See Mark 2:23-28. Yes, the Sabbath is of perpetual binding obligation. The Lord calls the Sabbath (the seventh day) “a perpetual covenant,” a sign forever (Ex. 31:16, 17), even in the new earth (Isa. 66:22, 23). But the National Reform resolution contemplates not the Sabbath of the Lord but a man-made substitute—the first day of the week. Where is the precedent for proclaiming that such a Sabbath is either of “divine authority” or of “perpetual binding obligation”? or of any obligation at all? “Who hath required this at your hand?” Surely not the Lord. G.