The Moral Law of God by John Byington

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Dec 20, 1853

The Moral Law of God

By John Byington

[The following letter by Bro. John Byington was sent to the Wesleyan for publication soon after the articles on the Decalogue appeared; but was returned without being published.]

BRO. MATLACK:—Will you permit me, through the Wesleyan, to address a few lines to your correspondent, J. M., of Cleveland, Ohio.

DEAR BROTHER:—Feeling a deep interest in your communications in the Wesleyan, on the moral law of God, leads me to address these few lines to you. And as I am a stranger, perhaps you will indulge me in a brief statement of my past experience. My father, Justus Byington, was converted under the labors of Lorenzo Dow, in Vermont, about the year 1800. He soon became a traveling preacher in the M. E. Church, where he remained until the P. M. Church was formed, with which he became connected, and remained until his death.

I was converted at the age of eighteen. Soon became a member of the M. E. Church—for many years was a class-leader and exhorter in the church—felt much interest in building Meeting-houses, and Parsonage-houses, thinking that when this was accomplished, religion would be prosperous. But being satisfied that this church, by her traditions and her Slavery, made the commandments of God of none effect, I sought a home in the Wesleyan Church. Here I have found many faithful and tried spirits. Some have gone to rest; others I hope will keep the narrow way, cost what it will.

For some time past, I have thought much of the word of prophecy concerning that Man of sin, spoken of by Daniel and St. Paul, which to a great extent has now become history. You have been particular in exposing the errors of Popery which relate to the three first items of the Decalogue.—On the fourth commandment you remark: "The introduction of saints' days and festivals has tended to reduce the Christian Sabbath to a day of amusement and dissipation." Now on this subject will you permit a few plain questions, which I hope you will be free to answer.

Was not the first day of the week, which is now called the Christian Sabbath, first introduced into the church as a holiday, while the seventh day, the Sabbath, was still held sacred?

As corruption increased, and Church and State united, and the Man of sin continued his work, was it not then that laws were made to observe the first day as holy time, and, of course, to tread down the seventh day, the Bible Sabbath?

Do not Romans tell us, Protestants are inconsistent, while they profess the Bible to be the only rule of practice, and yet have nothing but the tradition of the church for the first day as holy time?

Is it consistent to call Sunday the Sabbath?

Will you give us the origin of the name, Sunday, as attached to the first day of the week?

Do we learn from the word of God of any other day being hallowed, blessed and set apart as a weekly Sabbath, but the seventh day?

However trying it may be to flesh and blood, when the word of God is brought to us, must we not obey it?

Respectfully yours, JOHN BYINGTON, Buck's Bridge, N. Y., Apr. 21st, 1853.

P. S. BRO. MATLACK:—If you will give these few lines a place in the Wesleyan, please do it soon, and you may be as particular as you please in placing the responsibility upon myself. J. B.