Every Plant Not Planted by God
SAYS our Saviour, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." Matt. 15:13. And these words were spoken in connection with the law of God and the motives which actuate men. There was an outward show of devotion in that tradition by which the self-righteous Pharisees made void one of the commandments of God. And in that devotion to tradition, which seemed to the superficial and worldly to honor God, they were accounted very pious. Their hearts were selfish, and the words of Jesus offended them. But the Teacher does not modify or apologize. He can give his life for them, but he cannot compromise God's truth. Their tradition was not planted by God; it will be rooted up. And his words are just as applicable to any other like tradition. Will our readers weigh the words of Jesus and their bearing on the Sabbath question, now so much agitated? Here is the seventh-day Sabbath, originating and supported by positive acts, and injunctions, and precepts in the word of God. Here is the Sunday-sabbath which has not one single precept of the Bible for its support, not one single evidence that God regards it as sacred. Which of the two will you choose? Jesus says, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."