The Fourth Commandment and Faith
By Joseph S. Rogers
DEAR BRO. WHITE : I rejoice that there are some who are willing to embrace the truth in keeping the fourth commandment. In reading your argument upon the message of the third angel in reference to the keeping of the commandments, I was much gratified, for in this message the angel proclaims the blessing to those keeping the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. In looking at the majority of professed Christians, I see they do not regard the Sabbath of the Bible.— And yet we hear them say that they serve God with the whole heart. But we are taught by the Apostle, that he who offends in one point is guilty of all; that is, he is under condemnation, and can no longer be considered as being made free from all sin. And some tell us they live by faith; but the Apostle says, that faith without works is dead, and calls on them to give evidence of their faith. And he further says, that this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, not a part but the whole. If we were to tell them that that law which forbids men to kill was done away, would they not say that we were deceiving ourselves? So we say that they who are living in known neglect of God's commands do not obey him. The Sabbath being made for man, God has seen fit to embody it in the moral law. And Jesus tells us, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."— Heaven and earth has not yet passed away, so that the law that requires men to remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy is still obligatory upon all men, and through obedience to the commands of God, and faith in Christ, we are to be prepared for his second coming. JOSEPH S. ROGERS.
Preston, N. Y., Aug. 26th, 1852.