Who enters the City? by Luther Paine

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Oct 4, 1853

Who enters the City?

By Luther Paine

"BLESSED are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City." Rev. xxii, 12. 1. We inquire, who is the person who pronounces such glorious blessings of reward and privilege to such that do his commandments? In the two verses preceding the text we read, "and behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Verse 16. "I Jesus have sent mine angel," &c. We find in this chapter, beyond a shadow of doubt, that the blessing pronounced on commandment-keepers, is from the Lord Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that said to Peter, "It is I, be not afraid."

2. Whose were the (test) commandments in the text? They could not be the commandments of Jesus, because the text is expressive of another person, "his commandments." Then it can be none other than God the Father. Has the unchangeable God the Father given to man a law, and commandments, to observe and keep? The revelation of God's will to man proclaims in the affirmative. Amen. On Mount Sinai's fiery top, terrific and awful, to the thousands of Israel, were the ten commandments written by the great Lawgiver, on tables of stone of his own making. Ex. xxxii, 16. How long were they to be binding on man? Let David, "the man after God's own heart," speak of their perpetuity.—"All his commandments are sure, they stand fast forever and ever."

O, how can Adventists professing godliness, with scripture testimony staring them in the face, proclaim, that the ten commandments are abolished, or at least, a part of them. From whence do they get their license thus to believe and teach? Not from God's Bible. This is the foundation—the test—to

decide all difficulties among men. Depend on the fact, that God will have a church on the earth, that will honor him, and his word. Amen, Hallelujah!—Our blessed Lord honored and kept his Father's commandments. And as he had occasion from time to time to quote some part of the ten commandments, for the benefit of his hearers, but did not quote the fourth, lo! forsooth! it is abolished!! says the rejector of God's commandments.

Some quote this text; viz., "A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, him shall ye hear," [Acts iii, 22,] and say that Christ remodeled the ten commandments. How absurd!!! What dishonor the sentiment reflects upon the Almighty Lawgiver; as though he was an imperfect being. But I like the text quoted, "Hear him."—"Think not that I am come to destroy the law," &c. Matt. v, 7. "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." "The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."

We praise God that we are permitted in these last days to hear Jesus, the great Prophet, and his apostles unitedly establishing the commandments of the Father, for the benefit of man under the gospel dispensation.

But who will enter in through the gates into the city? The text is decidedly in favor of those that do his commandments. What will become of those that cast out but one of them? Such, according to James, offend; consequently are guilty of all.

We shall do well to know what is implied in keeping the commandments of God. The outward observance is but a small part towards fitting us for the City. A worldly, moral man, to some extent, may observe the letter of the commandments. But in possession of the "hope that maketh not ashamed," and in fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and our faith embracing all the truths of God's Word, we can sing, "This world is not my home."

LUTHER PAINE. Ware Vill., Mass., Sept. 16th, 1853.