p. 19 | MAN'S INVENTIONS by R. S. Anthony

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1887

MAN'S INVENTIONS.

By R. S. Anthony

"God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." Eccl. 7:29.

How true the language of the wise man! Ever since the fall of man, Satan has lost no time in his work of deception. And he is ever suggesting to the minds of men various ways of misapplying texts of Scripture.

A few weeks ago I entered a certain church in the city of ---, W. T. Taking a seat I noticed, placed in pockets on the backs of the seats, small envelopes. Examining these envelopes I found printed, in bold letters, this text: "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." 1 Cor. 16:2. The explanation, or application, was as follows: "Place your contribution in this envelope, and deposit it on the plate at collection."

Can the honest mind apply this text so? Not saying anything concerning the many translations which read, "by himself," "by himself at home," etc., the language of the text itself would not allow any such application.

Let us notice the language of the text and the application given. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." On the first day of the week everyone was to store by him (himself), according as he was prospered, in produce or money. Is church, Sabbath, or contribution plate in any way mentioned? The application requires that he must first go to church, and then put money on the contribution plate at collection. If "by him" means, collection plate, and "in store," the church, then might this application be made. But such, the candid reader will see is not the case.

First-day sabbath advocates use the same rule of interpretation, we presume, in the following plain scriptures: "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ex. 20:10. "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week." Matt. 28:1. "The Sabbath was made for man." Mark 2:27. When their rule is applied, the texts read thus: "The first day is the Christian sabbath." "Sabbath begins Saturday, at 12 P. M." "That old Sabbath was made for the Jews."

Is this not a complete fulfillment of the prophet's words: "Her priests [ministers, Joel 1:9; 2:17] have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, . . . and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them." Eze. 22:26. "Seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken." Verse 28. Such are some of the inventions of man.

R. S. ANTHONY.