p. 1 | A WONDER EXPLAINED by Charles B. Reynolds

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 16, 1876

A WONDER EXPLAINED.

By Charles B. Reynolds

“I WONDER—if the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and there is not one text in the Bible to justify our working on that day, no verse, or even part of a verse that commands or instructs us to keep Sunday—why it is that so many wise, good, prudent, and learned men, observe and preach that Sunday is now the true Sabbath? This is certainly a marvelous state of affairs, and we cannot but wonder at it.”

The Bible answers this question, foretelling this very wonder and why it should exist. “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men, therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” Isa. 29:13, 14.

What proof have we that this has any reference to obedience to the commandments of God? Turn to the testimony of the only ever safe and reliable commentator.

“Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:7-9. “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do aught for his father or his mother; making the word of God of none effect through your tradition.” Mark 7:6-13.

Do not these words apply as much to the violation of the fourth commandment as the fifth? Would not Jesus, if now here on earth, make the same declarations in regard to rejecting the commandment of God to keep holy the blessed and sanctified seventh

day—the Sabbath of the Lord—and obeying the tradition of men, by observing the heathen festival of Sunday?

Do not Matthew, Mark, and Luke, who wrote six, ten, and twenty-three years after the crucifixion of our Lord, each declare that the Sabbath of the Lord is past—ended before the first day begins? Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1, 2; Luke 23:56; 24:1. Of a verity it is marvelous! WONDERFUL!! “Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?” Surely the wisdom of the wise hath perished, and the understanding of the prudent is hid. CHAS. B. REYNOLDS.