p. 8 | HAD THEY KNOWN IT by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Jul 1, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 25.

"HAD THEY KNOWN IT."

By Editor

THE true Christian can always find a reason for the exercise of charity towards those who do wrong or ill-use him in their ignorance. Peter said to those who crucified Christ, "I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers." Paul said in speaking of the same ones: "Because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And tho they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain." "Which [wisdom] none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." And

Jesus said in speaking of those who would ill-treat and persecute his people, "These things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father nor me." These thoughts came to us while reading the following, sent us by Mr. J. J. Williams, Wengerlawn, O. Mr. Williams states that the building in question was erected with the understanding that it should be free for all orthodox denominations when not occupied by the Brethren in Christ. The ground for this house was given by Mr. Williams, and he assisted largely in its building. Subsequently, he accepted the teaching of the second coming of Christ and the Sabbath of the Lord. For this reason he and his brethren were debarred from the church, and served with the following notice:—

THE BRETHREN IN CHRIST CHURCH

To the Sect known as the Seventh-day Adventists.

You are hereby notified that on and after the fifteenth day of March, 1897, you will not be permitted to occupy or to hold services of any kind, or Sabbath-school, in the building owned and occupied by the Brethren in Christ located at Wengerlawn, Ohio. The following are some of the reasons why we deny you further use of the house:—

1st. The doctrine taught by your sect is grossly incompatible to that taught by Christ and the apostles. 2d. It is radically and grossly incompatible to that of the Christian religion as taught and practised at the present time by the Protestant church, inasmuch as you adhere to the Mosaic law in theory and practise so far as to prove a dogma, no farther. If a part of the Mosaic law is binding upon you, why not all of it? See Gal. 3: 22-29. 3d. You teach the observance of the seventh day as the day of rest, the Sabbath day. For this position no proof exists in apostolic law; but, on the contrary, proof does exist that the first day of the week was consecrated to God by the apostles in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. See J. L. Mosheim, page 27, arts. 3 and 4. We might cite also numerous passages of apostolic law to prove the falsity of your position, but it is not necessary here. 4th. You teach the doctrine that the Roman Catholic Church or its pontiff decreed that the first day of the week should be observed as the Sabbath, instead of the seventh day. For this you can not produce any proof whatever from any impartial writer. 5th. The doctrine you teach is confusing, and would work injury to society and injury to the cause of true religion. 6th. Your sect teaches that none will be saved but Seventh-day Adventists, a doctrine superfluous, selfish, and uncharitable in the extreme. You thus assume the right to judge the world, to divide the righteous from the unrighteous, a power that is dedicated to no man, sect, or creed. God alone reserves to himself that right.

Placing our trust in an all-wise Creator, We are most truly yours, Signed {J. A. FLORY, {I. WENGER, Trustees of Brethren in Christ Church.

As to the above reason it may be well to remark: (1) By the Word of God it should be decided whether "the doctrine" is or is not incompatible with that taught by Christ and his apostles. Certainly they all kept the seventh day, and taught our Lord's second coming. (2) The question is not, What is taught at the present day, or by the "fathers"? but, What does the Word teach? The Christian religion regards God's law in every jot and tittle. Ex. 20: 1-17; Matt. 5: 17-20. (3) Mosheim is not authority on apostolic teaching. The only true authority for the Christian is God's Word as held and given by Jesus Christ. (4) And the "more sure word of prophecy," and both Protestant and Roman Catholic testimony, teach the same thing, that in the common practise the day was changed by the apostolic church. See tract on "Who Changed the Sabbath?" (5) So the teaching of Jesus has always been confusing. But the confusion comes because of those who reject the truth, not from those who teach it. If all accepted, there would be no confusion. If all rejected it, there would be as much confusion as now exists. It is this doctrine that is God's healing balm to the wounded world. (6) No, not at all. Seventh-day Adventists do not know who will be saved; but they believe many will be saved from all the various churches, not because of error, but in spite of it. All who are saved will be so wholly on account of God's mercy. All judgment is therefore committed to him. The business of Christians is to preach the Word, and shun not to declare the whole counsel of God.

This much in brief for the above. Let the reader decide in the light of the blessed Word. The above action at Wengerlawn has, however, made it necessary for our brethren there to build a new church. And yet with the extra burden imposed upon them, which we hope they may receive help to bear, they may rejoice and be exceeding glad, and use more kindly than ever those who have thus unwittingly treated them. Had they known the truth, they would not have so done.