PREJUDICE by Jesse B. Smock

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 26, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 52.

PREJUDICE.

By Jesse B. Smock

THIS is written to all whom it may concern. It is often true that the most prejudiced people believe that they are not prejudiced. As prejudice leads to error, I would like to suggest a few thoughts as a preventative.

Says the apostle Paul: "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2 Cor. 10:12.

All are not so wedded to tradition that they are unwilling to appeal to the Word of God. It can be said of such, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11.

"It is easier for us to learn new truths than it is for us to unlearn our old errors."—Spurgeon.

"It is one thing to wish to have the truth on our side, but it is quite a different thing to wish to be on the side of truth."—Archbishop Whately.

If I swallow a dose of poison, conscientiously believing it to be wholesome, because my confidential doctor in mistake gave it to me, it is no less poison after being swallowed than before; and my life is endangered as much as tho we both knew it to be poison.

Therefore, as all finite minds are liable to be mistaken, how much the more ought we to cleave with loyal fidelity to the Word of our infinite Creator, who makes no mistakes!

Now, as there is no "thus saith the Lord" for the sanctification of the first day of the week as a day of rest or holiness, it can not be of divine planting; and the Lord Jesus hath said, "Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." Matt. 15:13.

But the unchangeable Creator has told us with unmistakable plainness which day He did bless and sanctify. "God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it." Gen. 2:3. God also gives us the reason why we should keep it holy. Ex. 20:8-11.

Now which day will we keep? and why? for all turns on the hinge of the will. If I am so prejudiced that I will not read the truth in God's own Book, then I am unwilling to know the truth; and if I am unwilling to know the truth, I am unwilling to do the truth. And then, if so, I am unreasonable, forsake my own mercies, reject the plain Word, cling to tradition, preferring to float on the tide of popularity, build hay, wood, and stubble, and will suffer loss in the day of final accounts.

Now permit me to ask one plain question of the intelligent reader that professes to believe in the unchangeable nature of God and His Word: Do you believe that our kind Creator, who never made a mistake, has taken the sanctified blessing from the seventh day of the week, making a secular day of it, and has transferred the sanctified blessing and grafted it onto the first day of the week, and never told us when nor why He has done this? Nay, verily, you can not believe it. Therefore all the transfer must be of human origin; and the Lord Jesus hath said, "But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matt. 15:9.

JESSE B. SMOCK.