WHO WANTS THE LAW ABOLISHED?
By W. N. Glenn
It is a bad sign to see a man striving to set aside the commandments of God. When we see men opposing any law of a human government, we know it is because they want the privilege of doing that which it forbids. In fact, the reasons generally assigned are to the effect that the obnoxious statute infringes upon the right to do that which it prohibits, or requires that which is distasteful to the objectors. This proposition needs no illustration; it is a truism, being continually demonstrated all over the world. And the principle holds good as to opposition to God's law; wherefore the unhesitating assertion that it is a bad sign when one sets himself against it, and it may reasonably be inferred that he does so because he desires to indulge in the things which the law disallows. The first commandment says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Who wants that law abolished? Certainly not God himself, for he will not give his glory to another. Isa. 42:8. Then it must be some of his subjects—and it must be such as do not like its provisions—who want to have other gods in preference to Jehovah, or imagine it a hardship to be restricted in the matter of adoration. The second commandment says, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing; . . . thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them." Who would have this command abolished? Not the Lord; for he is "a jealous God." In the very beginning he established an institution (the Sabbath) that should have been a continual preventive of idolatry. God's chosen people were, over and over again, severely chastened for indulging in idol worship; and, finally, the gospel was sent to the Gentiles to turn them from idols to the worship of the true God. Then it must be those who deem his service a "bondage," or a "grievous yoke," who desire to have this law repealed. The third commandment reads, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." Who would set aside this commandment? Not the Lord; for he has declared, "My name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering, for my name shall be great among the heathen." Mal. 1:11. It must be those who have no regard for his name who would abolish the third commandment. The fourth commandment says, "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy; six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work." Who would desire to see this command revoked? Not the Lord; for it is the memorial of his creative power, and that power marks the distinction between himself and all false gods. He surely would not have that removed. It must be those who have some counter object in view, and find this command in their way. The fifth commandment enjoins honor to parents. Who wants that abolished? Surely not the Lord; for one special object of his "Messenger" was to turn the hearts of parents and children toward each other. Mal. 4:6. And disobedience on the part of children is pointed out as one of the vices of the last days. 2 Tim. 3:2. This last reference also indicates what class would do away with this commandment. Who would abolish the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill"? Not the Lord; for his inspired word says, "No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." 1 John 3:15. It must be that class of people who consider it grievous to be restrained from any degree of malice toward their fellow-creatures. God would not repeal the seventh, or eighth, or ninth, or tenth commandment; for he has expressly declared that violators of these cannot enter his kingdom. "Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Cor. 9:10. Shall we say that those who do not want to recognize the law containing these commandments consider it a "bondage" to be forbidden such indulgences, even at the expense of losing an inheritance in the kingdom of God? It cannot be denied that this is the logical conclusion. The great majority of the professed Christian world claim that the fourth commandment has been changed. When asked for the authority of Scripture, they are driven to assume308that the whole moral law has been abolished. Now just one glance at their position. It is shocking to contemplate to what lengths apparently good men will run in pursuit of an idol; but they have placed themselves upon the record, and must bear the responsibility. They deliberately enter into league with the infidel to set aside the first commandment; with the idolater to abolish the second; with the blasphemer to ignore the third; with the "man of sin" to change the fourth; with the disobedient to disregard the fifth; with the murderer, the adulterer, the thief, the reviler, and the covetous, to trample upon the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth—for what?—Just to evade the obligation to observe the seventh-day Sabbath, the Sabbath of the Lord, which he himself did bless and make holy.