PERVERSION OF GOD'S WORD.
By L. V. Masten
THE world is flooded at the present time with ministers of the gospel, who profess to teach the word of God, and the doctrines of our Lord Jesus Christ, when, in fact, a large portion of what they hold forth as Bible truth, is nothing more than a corruption of God's word, and the "doctrines" and "commandments of men;" and are so enveloped with a cloud of superstitious errors, that their discourses have a tendency, rather, to drive people from the truth, instead of awakening conviction of sin. The cold and formal style in which they are delivered, seems to close the sinner's ear, and harden the heart, so that it is almost impossible for the light of truth to penetrate the cloud of unbelief, or the Spirit of God to touch the feelings of the heart. The Sabbath of the Lord; the memorial of his rest—bearing his holy signature—has been perverted by our fore-fathers, and handed down from generation to generation, until all civilized nations are now united in observing it in its polluted form. But, does God approbate their course, or sanction such a change? Let his Word decide: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I commanded you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Deut. iv, 2; xii, 32. This proof is decisive. We are commanded not to add unto or take from the commandments of God, in order to keep them. If we add to them, or diminish aught from them, we not only break his commandments, but sin against him by doing that which he has otherwise forbidden. Christ says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John xiv, 15. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments."—1 John, v, 3. "He that saith, I know [love] him, and keep not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Chap. ii, 4. "Add thou not unto his words, [commandments,] lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Prov. xxx, 6. I inquire, do we not add unto God's commandments by observing the first day of the week? Do we not virtually say, in keeping it as the Sabbath, that God has blessed and sanctified that day? Do we not also teach, by so doing, that God has taken his blessing from his Rest-day, and commanded us to keep the first-day of the week in its stead, when, in fact, no such command has ever been given? "Search the scriptures" diligently, then ask yourself the question, and let convicted conscience answer! Says one, by keeping the first day of the week, we commemorate Christ's resurrection and also God's Rest, both the same day. This certainly is a gross error. All will admit that Christ's resurrection can be commemorated on no other day but the very one on which he arose. Neither can we commemorate God's rest on any other day but the very one on which he rested. This fact being conclusive, I inquire, how is it possible to commemorate both events on the same day? It cannot be done. But admitting that we can commemorate both events on the same day, why choose the first? God has expressly commanded us to keep his Sabbath [Rest-day] holy—blessed and sanctified it, and pronounced a blessing upon those who keep it, and why not keep the day commanded to be kept, and receive the blessing? Why be so tenacious for the observance of the first day of the week, when there is no divine authority for so doing? Receive the admonition of the wise man, Solomon, and be careful not to "add unto, or diminish aught from God's word, lest he reprove thee and thou be found a liar." We may profess to love God, but if we do not keep his commandments, we deceive ourselves. Christ says, "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."—If there is no divine authority for Sunday-keeping, then certainly it must be a "commandment of men," and in keeping it, Christ says we worship him in vain! If we say we love him, and keep not his commandments, we prove ourselves liars, and the truth is not in us. God has declared that he will not alter the thing that has gone out of his lips. Some may contend that this has no reference to the commandments; but I believe it will apply to the whole of God's word.—God is unchangeable, and his words are as immutable as himself! God never has, neither can he change his holy law. If he could, he never would have given his beloved Son to die, that fallen man who had always walked in direct disobedience to that law, might be redeemed. And if frail man attempts to make a change, or annul its holy precepts, by it his soul will be condemned. May God save us from adding to, or diminishing aught from his word! Now "let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. xii, 13. Not of the Jews alone, but of all mankind. L. V. MASTEN.
Rochester, N. Y., May 16th, 1853.