We see by the "Harbinger" of Jan. 31st, that the editor has noticed our recent call at his office. Our object in going to the office was to obtain some of his books, also to obtain those names of his free list that he has recently dropped, and not for controversy. We fail to see anything of the noble spirit of the Christian that seeks fair investigation, in the remarks of M., but rather a disposition to oppose the truth and misrepresent those who advocate it. We are sorry to be compelled to thus speak; but we will let his remarks show the spirit of the man. He says:
"James White, a prominent leader among those of the Shut-Door and Seventh day Sabbath theory, and editor of their paper, recently called on us—During our friendly conversation he stated, as near as we can recollect, that he knew that the seventh day was the Sabbath, binding on christians to keep. We told him that we knew from the plain word of the Lord that he was in error in this respect. But we would yield the point, and become a convert to his views on the Sabbath if he would give one passage of scripture, without comment, inference or assumption, that plainly and unequivocally proves that it is the duty of christians to keep the seventh day as the Sabbath. He could give no such proof for none exists in the Bible. Hence the seventh day Sabbath is not binding on christians. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of the Lord. The word of the Lord furnishes no evidence that the seventh day Sabbath is binding on christians; hence no one can have real faith in it. If Mr. White had any Bible evidence to sustain his theory, why did he not present it? echo answers, Why?"
"Christians, beware how you listen to the vain, metaphysical and bewildering reasonings of these Shut-Door sabbatarians. No such ramblings as they present are needed to sustain a good cause.—The plain word of the Lord is always at hand to defend the truth. Remember this, and you will not be caught in any of the snares of these misguided ones. 'Let no man deceive you.'"
Note 1. What does M. understand by the shut door theory? If he means what is ignorantly called the "door of mercy," we reply that we know of no such door. The Bible mentions no such door. The parable of the ten virgins [Matt. xxv] mentions a shut door, but that shut door was literal, in the eastern marriage. It however represents an important event with which the church is connected, that was to occur prior to our Lord's return from the wedding. That event shuts out none of the honest children of God, neither those who have not wickedly rejected the light of truth, and the influence of the Holy Spirit.
It is declared by some that Jesus is still on the mercy seat. And this expression is often used in preaching, praying and singing. But because we teach that Jesus now stands before the mercy seat in the most holy place of the Heavenly Sanctuary, we are represented as being one of the leaders of the shut door theory. We say that Jesus is not on the mercy seat. He never was there, and never will be there. The place for the mercy seat is over the Ark of the covenant, within the second veil, in the holiest of all. Over the mercy seat is the cherubim of glory. They overshadow, or cover95the mercy seat. No place for the priest on the mercy seat.
We teach that Jesus our Great High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary, has fulfilled the following texts:
"And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." Isa. xxii, 22. "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth. I know thy works; behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Rev. iii, 7, 8.
This OPEN DOOR we teach, and invite those who have an ear to hear, to come to it and find salvation through Jesus Christ. There is an exceeding glory in the view that Jesus has OPENED THE DOOR into the holiest of all, or has passed within the second veil, and now stands before the Ark containing the ten commandments. "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament." Rev. xi, 19. If it be said that we are of the OPEN DOOR and seventh day Sabbath theory, we shall not object; for this is our faith.
Will those who are forward to speak evil of those things that they understand not, give an exposition of Isa. xxii, 22; Rev. iii, 7, 8?
Note 2. We are here represented as first introducing the Sabbath question, and asserting that we "knew" that our views were right. This was not so. We asked M. if he would let us have those names of his free list that he had dropped, and stated that we had offered to send the "Review and Herald," to those poor persons free, and if they were not able to pay the postage we would pay it for them. This he was not willing to do. He asked us if we would let him have our list. We stated that we should first wish to know his object in obtaining our list. We also stated that if we were in his place we could not object.
Mark this: We did not ask M. for the list that he uses, but merely those names he had dropped. The names of the poor of the flock, that he withheld the "Harbinger" from. He then stated that he knew that we were wrong relative to the Sabbath. We replied that there was then no room for controversy, as the matter was settled on his part; and that we might say that we knew that we were right.—This we had better not have said, as it gave a chance for misrepresentation; but our object was to show that assertions were not proof.
We were then requested to open the Bible and read one text where the Christian church was commanded to keep the seventh day. We then asked M. if he did not remember when he taught the coming of the Lord in 1843 that scoffers of every grade required him to read from the Bible that the Lord was coming in 1843. To this M. replied, "AND THEY REQUIRED IT JUSTLY TOO."
At this admission of M. we were astonished. If scoffers justly required M. to read from the Bible that the Lord was coming in 1843, before they would believe, then he unjustly urged them to believe on the evidence then presented. Therefore, according to this admission, they were the just, the wise that understood, while M. was with the unjust, or those that did not understand, but were doing wickedly!! See Dan. xii. This admission not only destroys the advent movement, and places its proclaimers in a sad position, but if this principle were carried out, it would render every prophetic period in God's word entirely useless. Would it not also charge God with injustice and folly in giving the prophetic periods in the manner that he has?
We then stated that our position on the Sabbath did not require that we should read from the New Testament the commandment to observe the Sabbath. That the Bible mentioned but one weekly Sabbath and that Christians were certainly bound to observe it unless it could be shown that it was abolished.
Here let it be distinctly understood that God has given but one weekly Sabbath, and has enforced it by dreadful penalties. Both Testaments recognize the seventh day as the Sabbath. Therefore our position does not require that the fourth commandment should be repeated in the New Testament. It is enough for Christians to know that the commandment is given in God's word.
Brethren, let the "laboring oar" be placed where it belongs, in the hand of those who reject the Sabbath. The commandment to keep the seventh day is given in the most plain and positive terms, and when our opponents will produce as plain and positive testimony for its abolition as is employed in the fourth commandment, then, and not till then, will we yield our position.
The fact that the commandments of God are taught and enforced in the New Testament is sufficient evidence for the honest Christian, that wishes to believe the whole truth that it is a Christian duty to observe the fourth. Unbelief can always find a handle to take hold of when it wishes one. Those who wish to doubt may find a wide field to doubt, and a broad road to death; while those who wish to believe the truth, as plainly revealed, can find abundant reason to believe.