p. 549 | A Striking Parallel by Epsilon

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 11, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 35.

A Striking Parallel.

By Epsilon

PERHAPS we may be thought uncharitable for drawing this parallel. We feel sad at the thought that many who claim an interest in Jesus are arraying themselves against the “holy,” “just,” “good,” “perfect,” and “spiritual” law of God. But whom are the antinomians imitating? Not the Lord Jesus; for he taught, both by precept and example, that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. He and his apostles condemned no one for keeping the letter of the law. But they taught plainly that the spirit is greater than the mere letter, and of course includes the letter.

The time was, in California, when one might mingle with various denominations and see no opposition to the claims of the decalogue. But when the light on the Sabbath came, it produced the effect of the fire cast from the censer upon the earth. Rev. 8: 5. Some churches, seeing the Sabbath enthroned in the very bosom of the decalogue, began at once a war against the “commandments of God.” Rev. 12: 17; 14: 12; 22: 14.

Other churches at first seemed loth to change their manner of teaching and preaching. But the Sabbath must be opposed, and to-day churches that would have defended the decalogue twenty years ago, are joining the antinomian ranks.

Is it unkind in us to tell them whom they imitate? They imitate Herod, not Jesus. This wicked man would gladly have murdered the infant Saviour singly. Though he held no ill will against the infants of Bethlehem, he ordered a body of soldiers to fall suddenly upon the village and environs, and slay all the male infants.

Why do these antinomians wish to drive the Sabbath out of practice? What is wrong about it? Can they find either in Scripture or reason a good plea for its discontinuance? Have they any better plea for attacking it than Herod could have for making an attempt upon the life of the infant Saviour? Finding that their attack on the Sabbath, singly, did not check the spreading of the truth, they must imitate Herod further. Herod slaughtered the innocents of Bethlehem in order to get rid of one innocent; and they attack the whole decalogue in order to get rid of the Sabbath. These severe words are penned with kind feelings toward them.

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Prov. 27: 6. EPSILON.