Brother Marsh:—In your paper for May 14, you say, "give us one plain direct passage from either the Old or New Testament, without note or comment, that reads that either a Jew or Gentile Christian is required to keep the seventh day or Jewish Sabbath, and we will not only publish it, but keep the day."
Ex. xx, 8-10. Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," &c. Gen. ii, 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Ps. cxi, 7, 8. All his commandments are sure. They stand fast, or, are established, (margin,) for ever and ever. Isa. xl, 8. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever. (Query. How could Christ abolish one of the commandments, or the word of God, that stands fast forever and ever?) Ps. cxix, 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Verse 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee. O let me not wander from thy commandments. Verse 21. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. Verse 35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.— Verse 51. The proud had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. Verse 53.— Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. Verse 115. Depart from me, ye evil doers: for I will keep the commandments of God. Isa. lvi, 1, 2, 6, 7. Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, &c., &c. Jer. vi, 16, 19. Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.— Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law but rejected it. Matt. v, 17, 19. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, &c. Eccl. xii, 13. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Yours willing to know and obey the truth.
A. J. RICHMOND.
South Haven, Mich., May 22d, 1853.