p. 704 | Anti-Sabbath Sermons by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 20, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 44.

Anti-Sabbath Sermons.

By Editor

OUR friends very often send us partial or complete reports of sermons that have been preached in their neighborhood, which they wish answered immediately through the SIGNS. To such we would say that if we should at once publish everything that seems to demand immediate attention, we should be obliged to enlarge the SIGNS to several times its present size. Further, while we are pleased to have them remember us by sending such articles, and desire to have them continue to do so, we must exercise our judgment as to how much of any sermon shall receive attention, or whether it is worth noticing at all. A review of a sermon preached in any town, would not specially interest the people of any other town, except as the subjects touched upon were of general interest; and the SIGNS is continually discussing those subjects. There are very few sermons preached against the Sabbath, that are worthy of notice, except for the moral effect of an immediate verbal reply. A fluent speaker, with unlimited self-confidence, may deliver a discourse which sounds very fine, but when it is put on paper it may appear that it was nearly all sound.

One thing more should be remembered, and that is, that to answer a discourse against the Sabbath usually requires three or four times as much space as the discourse itself. The reason is that people in general are satisfied with assertions against the Sabbath, but require argument, of which we have abundance, in favor of it.

And finally, that our brethren may never become alarmed by some bold assertion that is honored by its maker with the title of argument, we would say that it is absolutely impossible for any man to produce even the semblance of an argument against the Sabbath, that has not been met and answered scores of times. When you hear a sermon against the law and Sabbath, turn to our published works on the subject, and you will find that it was answered before it was delivered. It would not be surprising if you should find an answer in the current number of the SIGNS or Review. Remember that "the foundation of the Lord standeth sure."