Legalism by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 7, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 39.

Legalism

By Editor

Legalism.—It comes with an ill grace for those who believe in keeping a day for a sabbath not enjoined in the Bible, and are asking for human law to enforce it, to accuse those who observe the Sabbath of the Bible, the Sabbath kept by Jesus Christ, of "legalism," or of being "sticklers for a day." If they had their choice of a day apart from Revelation, they would doubtless go with the majority; but the Lord has in his Word, in the example of Jesus Christ, left them no option. The law is not theirs; it is God's law. The Sabbath commandment is not theirs; it is God's commandment. And "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous." Is this "legalism"? If so it is of the Gospel. But what does clinging to Sunday mean? And what should demanding a human Sunday law be called? Is it not akin to "legalism"?