p. 348 | The Sabbath Truth by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Nov 21, 1878

The Sabbath Truth.

By Editor

THE light which is now spreading on the subject of the Sabbath is felt by all classes of religionists, and is leaving its impress wherever it extends. The Christian Statesman of October 31, quotes the following from a paper read by Dr. Goodwin at the "church Congress" in Cincinnati, and calls it "excellent":—

"It is felt by some that either we must give up the authority of the fourth commandment entirely, or we must furnish some satisfactory account of this change of the day. This seems to be the more commonly received view; but it has the character of most compromises—it is wavering and inconsistent. . . . It is not necessary to suppose that this change was made by any formal or express enactment or institution of Christ himself before his ascension, or of the apostles afterward, or even of the church in any age, acting in her organic capacity. Neither does ecclesiastic history reveal to us any formal legislation of the church introducing such a change of the day. The change came in by degrees. The Lord's day, the weekly celebration of Christ's resurrection, stood at first, and from the very day of resurrection itself, side by side with the weekly Jewish Sabbath. Then the observance of the latter gradually faded out of use in the Christian church, and the Lord's day, or Sunday, completely took its place."

That the first day of the week from the time of the resurrection, stood by side with the seventh day Sabbath, in honor and observance, cannot be proved. Except this, the above quotation contains a fact of history which we have for years claimed to be true, but which our opposers have strenuously denied. And the Christian Statesman has been steadfast in claiming the perpetuity of the fourth commandment on divine authority for the change of the Sabbath, an idea or theory which it now confesses to be "wavering and inconsistent." Mr. Goodwin argues that evidence of authority for this change is not required. We are of the opinion that he, and the Statesman with him, arrived at this conclusion only because he has become thoroughly convinced that no such evidence exists. The change of position is made to suit the necessities of the case.

They have insisted that the change was made by the authority of the Saviour and of his apostles; that this change was effected at once; that all Christians, from the very time of the resurrection of the Lord, were unanimous in their observance of the first day. Step by step the truth is gaining ground, and the advocates of Sunday keeping are compelled to concede what they have so long and so strenuously denied.

It is a fact most singular that these teachers do not seem to be aware that they are showing unmistakable signs of weakness by these concessions; they appear to feel as secure as ever while their strongholds are being taken from them. But the people are not thus to be deceived. They cannot fail to see that a theory is weak which has constantly to change its position; to admit what it has so long denied, and to deny what it has so long affirmed. With the plain, simple declarations of the Bible they are becoming pressed too closely. This ought to inspire every lover of the "third angel's message" of Rev. 14:9-12, with confidence in its power to convict opposers, and in its ultimate glorious triumph.

There has been no change of the Sabbath by divine authority. A change without Scriptural authority ought to be discountenanced by every Protestant. It makes no matter how strong the claim is made on "common consent," or "nearly universal custom." This can have no authority on questions of this nature. "The Bible, and the Bible alone, is the religion of Protestants." All the world, without the word of God, cannot make religious duty. The holy Scriptures must stand though all the world combine against them. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20.