Editorial by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 26, 1892

Editorial.

By Editor

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable."—2 Tim. 3:16.

"FOREVER, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven." "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Ps. 119: 89, 105.

THE past year has been a prolific one in storm, pestilence, and disease. Despite the advance of science it finds itself puny before these mighty warriors. God has foretold all these in his word.

To REJECT the miracles recorded in the Pentateuch, or books of Moses, is to reject the Pentateuch itself; and to reject the Pentateuch is to reject Christ, for Christ everywhere indorses, either directly or by implication, the writings of Moses. He said to the unbelieving Jews: "Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" John 5: 45-47. Faith in the Christ is faith in the word which he spoke through Moses and the prophets.

The Written Word Sufficient.—In the New York Observer of some months ago there is a brief, pointed little article by "Clericus" on "Christ's Unwritten Words," which closes with the following:—

It seems an unspeakable loss to the world that it has the benefit of no more of the words spoken by the Saviour during his ministry here. But the divine Author of the Gospels knew best what and how much should be written, and doubtless we have all that is really needful to teach us concerning God, our duties to him and to one another, the nature of acceptable worship, the future life, and the way of salvation. More than this we do not need. What we know not now, we shall know hereafter.

Yes, the divine Author knew best, and he has given all that is necessary. But he did not give us either command or example for the observance of the first day of the week as the Sabbath, or as a Sabbath. We have heard of ministers who taught that the Sunday sabbath was one of Christ's unwritten commands. It certainly is not among his written ones, and the written word is sufficient.

THE year 1892 has seen any amount of trouble in the industrial world. Strike has followed strike and piled upon strike without number, three of these disturbances in the United States culminating in open armed resistance and loss of life. Labor and capital have waged relentless war, with the results always in favor of capital, as it always will be till the enraged mob overthrows the money kings and tyrannical monopolies and corporations, and erects a worse tyranny on the ruins. Will it be better? Rather will it not, as delineated in the prophetic word, "wax worse and worse"? But there is light overhead. To the poor the Lord says, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord." See James 5: 1-7. Christ, the righteous Judge, is coming.