The Covenants and the Ten Commandments
“The True Sabbath” is the title of a pamphlet, by W. L. Phillips, a Methodist minister, which is more or less indorsed by several clergymen. Mr. Phillips’ whole argument is based on a misconception of the covenants. Because the agreement between God and Israel at Horeb is called a covenant, and because the expression of God’s will in words, the Decalogue, is called a “covenant,” the conclusion is at once adopted that they are identical. But the first, or old covenant, was a mutual agreement between God and Israel (see Ex. 19:5–8), of which the Ten Commandments were the conditions. Whether Israel kept the conditions or not did not affect the commandments. Not keeping them condemned Israel, broke their agreement, forfeited the promises, but changed not the law. The Ten Commandments themselves are God’s will expressed in law to the children of men, eternal, universal, unchangeable, as the character of God. Jesus said, “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass than for one tittle of the law to fail.” And He obeyed it that we might. “He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.”