Again and again has the Christian church come face to face with mighty truths that have forced her to momentous decisions. It was thus during the Reformation of the sixteenth century. And there is as truly a twentieth century reformation to-day that is forcing the Christian world to great decisions.
Everywhere men are choosing — choosing for or against truth. The person who knowingly comes face to face therewith, and rejects eternal verities, that he may cling to the sophistries of error — such a one plays the traitor to truth.
The Christian Sabbath — is it Saturday, or Sunday? What shall aid us in settling this great question? What shall be the final arbiter? Fallible human reason? Vague speculations? — Surely not. The Bible alone can give the help we need. It is the Christian's supreme court, from whose decision there can be no lawful appeal.
The authoritative testimony of the "oracles of God" will be clearly and strongly presented by Mr. Haynes in eight articles, of which this is the first.
IN the Christian world, there are two Sabbaths. During the past fifty years, the question as to which is the true one has been pressing itself with ever increasing urgency upon the attention of Christian people.
The great majority of Christians have for centuries observed the first day of the week, Sunday, and but very few have ever questioned the correctness of such observance. Each new generation, as it has taken up the work of its fathers, has found the Sunday institution strongly intrenched as one of the long accepted customs of Christian people. Hence an examination of its authority has been considered unnecessary, and it has been observed as a matter of course.
Now, however, its foundations are attacked by those who have adopted the observance of another day, and therefore it is necessary that those who observe Sunday examine closely the platform upon which they stand, and become familiar with the reasons and authority for the Sunday institution. There is no reason to fear but that the truth of this question will be made manifest if such an examination is based upon the Bible, the foundation of all Christian faith and practice.
Sabbath Keepers Increasing
THROUGH all the centuries, there have been some who have faithfully observed the seventh day of the week. During the last half century, their numbers have multiplied in a remarkable way; and at the same time, their missionary activity and zeal have been so fervent that thousands of people have been convinced that the seventh day, Saturday, is the true Sabbath, and have begun its observance. These, imbued with the same intense zeal, have won other converts; and so their work has grown, attracting widespread attention.
To-day these modern Sabbatarians are conducting well organized evangelistic campaigns in every large city in the United States and Canada, as well as in hundreds of smaller places; and their work has now grown to such amazing proportions that their missionaries are said to be operating in more countries than the missionaries of any other mission board or society. These facts have forced the Sabbath question upon the attention of all Christians, making it a subject of the utmost importance to all classes of Christian people. It is rapidly becoming one of the greatest religious questions of the present day. Thousands and tens of thousands of people, both in the church and out of it, are troubled about it; great religious gatherings are discussing it; multitudes are deciding either for or against it, and it has gone outside the church, and has become a political issue, more appeals being made today for Sabbath legislation than ever before in the history of the nation.
A Challenge to Christian People
THESE things constitute a challenge to Christian people which cannot be avoided.
This Sabbath question must be studied, the facts concerning it ascertained, not merely by the ministry, but also by the people; and then the duty of each individual must be settled in the light of these facts, and in view of every individual's personal accountability to God.
And in the study of this question, and the bringing to light of the facts underlying it, we cannot accept the word or the authority of men. The pronouncements of men on this question may be pleasing to us if they harmonize with our views of the case, but they would afford no safe ground for our faith. This question cannot be settled by discussion and argument. And we do not have the time, the space, or the inclination, in these articles, to examine every supposition, speculation, conjecture, assumption, and assertion that men have advanced concerning this matter. The soul that longs for certainty, light, and truth, cannot be satisfied with anything less than the authorized pronouncements of the "oracles of God."
Is there, then, a revelation from God to supply our need of light on this great question? God understands this matter. "He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him." Eternity discloses its vast extent to His glance. If there was ever a time when men schemed to effect a change of the Sabbath wrongfully, He knew their schemes, and could have informed His people, by a prophecy, of the proposed attempt. If an unauthorized change of the Sabbath has been brought about, He is acquainted with the facts, and can enlighten His people concerning them. He can solve this problem and remove the obscurity.
But will He do it? Will the divine Oracle, who cannot err, and who will not lie, respond to the eager query of the truth seeker who waits with eager yearning at the portal of the eternal temple?
We need not fear. "He revealeth the deep and secret things." The God of truth has spoken. "He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." By inspiration of the mighty God, there has been given to His servants knowledge and understanding. The perplexities of this question have been removed, and the truth revealed, through men who have spoken as "they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
Divine Authority, Not Human
Now, shall we "turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven," and go to the uncertain and dubious oracles of earth for the wisdom we are seeking? — Not so! Let us subordinate human speculation, and all the theories of men, to His authoritative teaching, in which He has spoken so clearly concerning this very subject.
To the Bible we look. We will call no man master or teacher. We turn from the foolish babblings of a philosophy falsely so called, and take our place at the feet of the eternal Teacher, to receive from Him the words of everlasting life. All our differences He shall decide. All our difficulties He must settle. All our problems He must solve. To the Bible then we turn, the Bible from the first of Genesis to the last of Revelation. Determined to abide strictly by the unalterable decisions of His word, we shall carefully and reverently examine its teachings on the Sabbath question.
