Not a Parallel

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 29, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 29.

Not a Parallel.—It is said that if government fixes the number of hours in a legal day’s work, it has a right to prohibit labor on Sunday. But the cases are not parallel. If government has a right to determine the number of hours in a day’s work, it has the right to determine the number of days in a week’s work. This is a parallel. But when the government declares that eight hours constitute a day’s work it does not prohibit a man from working ten or twelve or more if he desires. So it could say that six days constitute a week’s work, but it has no right to say that a man shall not work any six, beginning those six anywhere he chooses. He may work seven if he desires. It is one thing to define a period of time; it is quite another to limit men to a fixed period. The one law pertains to an institution, a thing, the other pertains to men.

Jesus Christ our Lord is a complete Saviour. He needs no pope, no cordon of councils or priests, no church creeds, between him and the sinner in order to save that sinner’s soul. With his own human arm linked by power with the throne of the Eternal, and in infinite pity and tenderness, he reaches down to the lowest strata of humankind to lift up to companionship with God every longing human soul. O sinner, you may come to him boldly! He is a royal priest, having “compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way,” that you may come. The door of mercy stands not ajar, but wide open. He says, “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it,” be he called pope, bishop, or preacher. “He delighteth in mercy.” He is “pleased” with them that “hope in his mercy.” Will you not trust him? He is able; he is wise; and he is willing. Will you not accept him as your Saviour, his life as your light, his Word as your guide?