DANGER TO THE SABBATH by W. N. Glenn

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 23, 1896

“DANGER TO THE SABBATH.”

By W. N. Glenn

BY W. N. GLENN.

The advocates of Sunday observance make much ado over the “danger” to their so-called Sabbath, both on account of the lax manner in which it is regarded by its friends and the disregard of those who view it in the light of a merely secular day. Being (as a Sabbath day) only a man-made institution, with only such safeguards as men may throw around it, its existence may be threatened when men fail to do it homage. As the support of men is only induced by deception, by tradition, by superstition, and by the hope of temporal advantage,—in other words, by purely selfish considerations,—there is little wonder that its votaries become alarmed when the props begin to weaken, and the truth concerning its standing as a religious pretension is shown up to the world. No wonder that, under the great search-light of the word of God, they begin to proclaim loudly of impending danger, and call upon the civil authorities to stay up the tottering structure with more stringent laws. No wonder they call for the squelching of all opponents by every available human means. No wonder we hear such vehement shouts in praise of the day, the observance of which is now being lauded as the very foundation of Christian life and work.

The Scriptures furnish us a parallel. When Paul preached the Gospel in and around Ephesus, the honor and influence of the great goddess Diana was seriously threatened. The record says:—

“And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands; so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshipeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” Acts 19: 23-28.

In contrast, the institutions of God’s planting are in no way endangered tho all the world turn against them. The Sabbath of the Lord, the seventh day of the week, is imbedded in his unchangeable law. The combined power of all the adversaries the world has known can not affect one jot or little of this law. Then no danger can come to the Sabbath which it proclaims. On the other hand, the danger is to those who oppose and disregard the Sabbath. This is shown in the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning Jerusalem:—

“And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work therein. Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever. But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.”

The sequel was that the Sabbath was profaned by the people of Jerusalem through their departing from the true God, and the city was destroyed and its inhabitants made captives to a heathen nation. But the Sabbath remained unscathed. It remained, and still remains, the sign between the Lord and his people. No danger can come to the Sabbath, or to any other institution, which God has established; and he has assured those who adhere to these by faith that, though temporarily persecuted by their enemies, in the day of his visitation no harm shall befall them. See Psalms 91.