SABBATH LAWS by W. N. Glenn

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 3, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 39.

“SABBATH LAWS.”

By W. N. Glenn

BY W. N. GLENN.

The Christian Intelligencer favors a revision of sabbath laws. It says:—

We insist upon this, first, because it is right. No community should interfere with the conscientious convictions of any of its people. Secondly, such a regulation would relieve the Seventh-day Baptists. This class of people have feeble logical strength, but are otherwise excellent citizens. They ought to be indulged in their infirmity so long as that indulgence does not interfere with the enjoyment of the Lord’s day by others. Thirdly, the proposed change would free the friends of Sunday from a burden they ought not to carry, the burden of oppressing the consciences of their weak brethren. We are friends of the sabbath laws as both right and expedient, but those laws must not be used to inflict penalties upon conscientious and God-fearing men.

How patronizingly charitable! And what is the evidence of their “feeble logical strength”?—Simply this: they reason that they ought to keep the seventh-day Sabbath because the Lord has so commanded. It might be expected that an Ingersoll or other outright worldling would deem this an evidence of feeble-mindedness, but that one claiming to be an instructor in righteousness should so characterize an act of obedience to God is beyond the pale of even feeble logic. According to the position assumed by the Intelligencer, it is a mark of great logical strength to obey man rather than God; therefore, its stand is precisely that of the infidel.

As to its solicitude for the friends of the Sunday law who assume the burden of oppressing the consciences of their weak brethren, there is indeed cause for such concern. Admitting for the moment the seventh-day observer’s “feeble logical strength,” it might be profitable for those who oppress them to remember the words of Christ: “Whoso shall cause one of these little ones which believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh.” Matt. 18:6, 7, R. V. Surely no greater cause of stumbling could be placed in the way of any simple-minded person, either little child or adult, than to induce or attempt to compel him to turn away from the plain commandment of God.

But the last sentence of the quotation at the beginning of this article is the climax of “feeble logical strength” on the part of the Intelligencer itself. “Sabbath laws” are “both right and expedient,” but they “must not be used to inflict penalties upon conscientious and God-fearing men.” What kind of a sabbath law would it be that could inflict penalties upon such a class? Remember that the “sabbath laws” referred to are those enacted by men, and are always Sunday laws; and the God-fearing men referred to are those who keep the Sabbath ordained by the law of God. Yet the Christian Intelligencer avows friendship for a sabbath law, and deems it “right and expedient,” that is opposed to the Sabbath law given by the Lord, and which is kept by “conscientious and God-fearing men.” Such a sabbath law as is contrary to the Sabbath law of God must be a man-made law. But it “must not be made to inflict penalties upon conscientious and God-fearing men.”

Then upon whom must such laws inflict penalties?—Upon those who are not “conscientious and God-fearing,” of course. But who is to be the judge as to who are “conscientious” and who are not? Let us see. Offenses under all man-made laws must be tried before human courts. Then human judges must be judges of the consciences of all offenders against such “sabbath laws” as the Intelligencer deems “right and expedient.” And that is the obligation thrown upon human courts by all human laws promulgating religious doctrine, or in any way interfering with religious duties of the people.