Tradition vs. Bible by William Simpson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 14, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 45.

Tradition vs. Bible.

By William Simpson

BY WM. SIMPSON.

Some time ago there came under my observation the following newspaper clipping from the Harlan American—

An Extract from a Lecture Delivered by Father Enright.

The attendance at the Catholic Church was unusually large last Sunday eve, many being unable to gain admittance. The subject treated of on that eve was the “The Power and Authority of the Catholic Church.” Father Enright’s remarks upon Sunday observance created something of a sensation. He said:—

“My brethren, look about you upon the various wrangling sects and denominations. Show me one that claims or possesses the power to make laws binding on the conscience. There is but one on the face of the earth,—the Catholic Church,—that has power to make laws binding upon the conscience, binding before God, binding under pain of hell fire. Take, for instance, the day we celebrate—Sunday. What right have the Protestant churches to observe that day?—None whatever. You say it is to obey the commandment, ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ But Sunday is not the Sabbath according to the Bible and the record of time. Every one knows that Sunday is the first day of the week, while Saturday is the seventh day and the Sabbath, the day consecrated as a day of rest. It is so recognized in all civilized nations. I have repeatedly offered $1,000 to any one who will furnish any proof from the Bible that Sunday is the day we are bound to keep, and no one has called for the money. If any person in this town will show me any scripture for it, I will to-morrow evening publicly acknowledge it and thank him for it. It was the Holy Catholic Church that changed the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday, the first day of the week. And it not only compelled all to keep Sunday, but at the Council of Laodicea, A.D. 364, anathematized those who kept the Sabbath, and urged all persons to labor on the seventh day under penalty of anathema. Which church does the whole civilized world obey? Protestants call us every horrible name they can think of,—‘antichrist,’ the ‘scarlet-colored beast,’ ‘Babylon,’ etc., and at the same time profess great reverence for the Bible, and yet by their solemn act of keeping Sunday they acknowledge the power of the Catholic Church. The Bible says, ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,’ and that the seventh day is the Sabbath; but the Catholic Church says, ‘No, keep the first day of the week’—and the whole world bows in obedience.”

The above extract has been largely circulated. As a result of this the objection has been made by Catholics as well as Protestants, that this was nothing but a shrewd scheme gotten up to deceive the people. Having met this objection so many times, I wrote to Cardinal Gibbons, whom I knew would be a good witness and good authority in the Catholic Church. The following is a copy of the letter:—

CARDINAL GIBBONS, Baltimore, Md.—Dear Sir: Pardon me for taking the liberty of addressing you, but I would like to ask you in regard to the truthfulness of certain statements made by your people. Father Enright, I have heard, has offered $1,000 for one biblical text enjoining the first day of the week to be kept as the Sabbath, saying that it was the Catholic Church that changed the day from Saturday, the seventh day, to Sunday, the first day of the week. Is this so? Is Sunday keeping founded wholly upon biblical or traditional authority? If it is founded upon the tradition of the Catholic Church, are not Protestants who claim to take the Bible only

as their guide inconsistent with their profession, while professing great reverence for the Bible and yet entirely ignoring the day commanded by their Teacher, and accepting a day which has nothing for its authority but tradition? Should not Christians be consistent in their belief?

Awaiting your reply, I am yours respectfully.

After a few days I received the following reply:—

CARDINAL’S RESIDENCE, 408 N. Charles St., Baltimore, June 23, 1895. MR. WM. SIMPSON, Darrell, Ont.—Dear Sir: Your letter addressed to the cardinal was received. The cardinal is now in Rome. In reply to your question, I beg to say that Father Enright is certainly correct in his assertions. There is not in the Bible a single text enjoining the observance of Sunday.

Sunday as the Lord’s day rests entirely upon traditional grounds.

The Catholic Church is consistent, for she has always acknowledged tradition as well as the Bible to be her rule of faith. Yours truly,

REV. WM. S. RUSSELL.

With the above facts staring us in the face, is it not time that we Protestants were getting our eyes open? Shall we stand still and do nothing to free ourselves from the bands that Rome has thrown about us, or shall we as God’s children shake off every Romish doctrine that still holds us in “Babylon”? God is calling now to every honest child of his to come out of Babylon and be separate. It will require a struggle, but can we not afford to suffer inconvenience and even persecution and be on the safe side? The Reformation has not yet ended. It did not end with Luther, as many seem to suppose. Luther had a great work to do in reflecting to others the light which God permitted to shine upon him, yet he did not receive all the light which was to be given to the world. From that time till this, new light has been continually shining, and will continue to shine more and more till the perfect day.

And God calls for a reformation to-day to oppose the tradition of men, and hold forth a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” God calls his children everywhere to rally together and rescue his Sabbath from the mass of débris, corruption, and error of the Romish Church which has covered it for these many years. There will be inconvenience, but no true reformers ever had an easy time. The foundation of our hope of everlasting life can not be laid too sure. We must have a plain “Thus saith the Lord” to rest our hope upon. In vain do we worship him if we knowingly teach for doctrine the commandments of men. It will require effort and moral courage to live out God’s truth, and it will surely bring persecution; but let not the promise be forgotten that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.”