DODGING by Uriah Smith

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

DODGING

By Uriah Smith

The Restitution tries to parry the force of our friendly criticism on its Ten Virgin's article, published in the REVIEW of Jan. 20. This is not strange; but it is of no use. We spoke of going “into the marriage,” and the Restitution wants to know what kind of a Bible we use. Now there isn't the least point to this, because we were not pretending to quote Scripture, as the Restitution was when it said, “They that were ready went into the marriage supper.” Besides, going into the marriage is a very different thing from going “into the supper.”

The Restitution is evidently envious at the union and harmony existing among S. D. Adventists, and tries, in its issue of March 8, to prove that it don't exist by the following startling fact: The author of one of our pamphlets years ago took the position that the law in Galatians refers to the moral law. A recent writer in the REVIEW, refers it to the ceremonial law. Now where's the union and harmony among S. D. Adventists? Oh! where!

But what about these writers? Do they both believe there is a distinction in laws? Yes. That the ten commandments constitute the moral law? Yes. That the law of Jewish sacrifices and offerings was the ceremonial law? Yes. That the moral law in all its parts is now binding? Yes. That the ceremonial law has been abolished? Yes. Then what? Why, in regard to the application of a particular text or texts, they do not come to the same conclusion, one thinking they may more properly refer to the moral, the other to the ceremonial, law. Does this affect their position on the two laws a particle? Not a particle. Or their practice? No, not in the least. Wonderful disunion this, isn't it? Wonderful! The Restitution is very welcome to all the consolation it can derive from it. U. S.