p. 23 | [From Bro. Cottrell.] by Roswell F. Cottrell

Publishing Committee · Saratoga Springs, N. Y. · Sep 2, 1851

[From Bro. Cottrell.]

By Roswell F. Cottrell

[From Bro. Cottrell.]

BRO. WHITE: The No-Sabbath heresy prevails to a great extent in this part of the country. Its defenders tell us that no Sabbath was commanded or kept, between the time of the creation and the giving of the law at Sinai; therefore, they conclude, the Sabbath was for the Jews only. Prove to us, say they, that the Sabbath law existed before it was commanded at Sinai, and we will admit it is binding now, and will keep it.

To these, my friends, I would say, I am glad you have made this promise, and shall be gladder still if you perform it; for I propose to prove from the Scriptures, (and you admit their truth,) that The Sabbath law existed, and was obeyed by Abraham in his day.

But before I proceed to the proof, I will premise, what you will readily admit, that the covenant made with Abraham (Gal. iii, 17,) was the gospel, or everlasting covenant. Gal. iii, 8.

Now to the proof. Gen. xxvi, 5, “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” This text proves that God had commandments and laws, and that Abraham kept them in his time.

Ps. cv, 6. “O ye seed of Abraham my servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen, He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered his COVENANT forever, the word which he COMMANDED TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; and confirmed the SAME unto Jacob for a LAW, and to Israel for an EVERLASTING COVENANT.” This affirms, positively, that the covenant made with Abraham was the same that was confirmed to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant. Now if we can find the covenant that was confirmed to Jacob for a law, we shall find, at the same time, the covenant made with Abraham, the laws and commandments of which he obeyed; and also the EVERLASTING COVENANT—the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

Ex. xxiv, 12. “And the Lord said unto Moses, come up to me into the mount, and be there; and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law and commandments which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.” Deut. iv, 13. “And he declared unto you HIS COVENANT which he commanded you to perform, EVEN TEN COMMANDMENTS, and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.” Now, if the Sabbath commandment is one of the ten, I have fully sustained my proposition. And now the question arises, will you submit to the authority of divine truth, or will you be found among “them that forsake the holy covenant?” Can you strike hands with him, who has “indignation against the holy covenant,” and think to “change times and laws?” (Dan. xi, 30, and vii, 25.) You talk much of the “new covenant.” What is it? “I will put MY LAW in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.” And this is not all. “They shall teach no more every man his neighbor, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall ALL know me.” The gospel is now preparing the way to that happy state of things; and if we “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” we shall be prepared to have part in the first resurrection, and realize the fulfillment of the glorious promises of the everlasting covenant. For the covenant includes, not only that which we are “commanded to perform,” but “exceeding great and precious promises” of what God will do for those who obey him.

Let God be true.

ROSWELL F. COTTRELL.