THE POSITION OF THE REMNANT.
By Editor
Their Duties and Trials Considered.
THE third angel [Rev. xiv, 9-12] utters a solemn and dreadful message of warning, and threatened wrath. His message closes as follows: "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." These, of course, are the true worshipers of God. The warning of this angel is against false worship—the worship of the "beast and his image." The two classes, and the two kinds of worship, are apparent. One class worship God. They keep his commandments and the faith of his Son. The other class worship the beast. They observe at least one of the beast's institutions, which stands in opposition to some commandment and institution of the God of heaven. And we believe the Sabbath to be the very institution. God rested on the seventh day, then sanctified and blessed the day in which he had rested, and thus "made the Sabbath for man." The fourth commandment guards and enforces the day of Jehovah's rest, and points us back to creation for the reason of the existence of the institution. Christ intimates no change in this precept of the law of God, but says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law," and affirms that, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass" from it. The apostles intimated no change of the Sabbath, but observed it, [Acts xiii, 42-44; xvi, 13; xviii, 4, 11; xxviii, 17, 30, 31.] and taught the law and commandments of God. So far as the Bible speaks of a weekly Sabbath, it knows none but the seventh day. But we find a very large majority of the professed Christian world observing the first day of the week instead of the Sabbath of the Bible. Where is their authority for so doing? It is not in the Bible. Where then shall we look for it? It can be found only in the history of the "beast"—Papacy. Then as those who keep God's commandments, (and no man can do this and break the Sabbath of the fourth,) are the worshipers of God, are not those who observe the institutions of the beast, (one of which is the observance of First-day in the place of the Sabbath of the Lord our God,) the worshipers of the beast? As fundamental errors, we might class with this counterfeit sabbath other errors which Protestants have brought away from the Catholic church, such as sprinkling for baptism, the trinity, the consciousness of the dead and eternal life in misery. The mass who have held these fundamental errors, have doubtless done it ignorantly; but can it be supposed that the church of Christ will carry along with her these errors till the judgment scenes burst upon the world? We think not. "Here are they [in the period of a message given just before the Son of man takes his place upon the white cloud, Rev. xiv, 14] that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." This class, who live just prior to the second advent, will not be keeping the traditions of men, neither will they be holding fundamental errors relative to the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. And as the true light shines out upon these subjects, and is rejected by the mass, then condemnation will come upon them. When the true Sabbath is set before men, and the claims of the fourth commandment are urged upon them, and they reject this holy institution of the God of heaven, and choose in its place an institution of the beast, it can then be said, in the fullest sense, that such worship the beast. The warning message of the third angel is given in reference to that period, when the mark of the beast will be received, instead of the seal of the living God. Solemn, dreadful, swiftly-approaching hour! "And the dragon [the devil] was wroth with the woman, [the church,] and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, [true Christians in the last generation, just prior to the second advent,] which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. xii, 17. The commandments of God mean the ten precepts which God commanded, [Ex. xx.] and not nine of them only. The testimony of Jesus Christ means what Christ taught, and also the teaching of his inspired apostles. Mark the distinction between the two. Those who assert that the commandments of God here mentioned mean the declarations of Christ and the apostles, confound together what inspiration has left separate and distinct. It looks to us like downright infidelity to quibble on this point, as some do, to get rid of the fourth commandment. The conclusion is perfectly natural and irresistible that the "remnant" are Sabbath-keepers. And what is it that stirs the ire of the dragon, if it is not the Sabbath? Nine of the commandments are universally acknowledged to be binding, and are professedly kept. The dragon is as quiet as a lamb with those who acknowledge and professedly observe nine-tenths of the "commandments of God." Who has war made on them for observing the first, second, third, (pass over the fourth,) fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth commandments? But it will be acknowledged that there is a universal antipathy to keeping the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. This feeling exists, and yet who dare say that the fourth is not one of the commandments of God? All, who have any knowledge of the Bible, know that it is; yet the mass, either ignorantly or wickedly, frown upon the Christian who has sufficient conscientiousness and moral courage to keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, which the all-wise Law-giver has placed in the very bosom of the Decalogue. But there is not only a general antipathy to the Sabbath, but, in communities where the subject is presented, there is generally a spirit of bitter opposition immediately raised. Perhaps the minister of the place preaches on the subject, and feels called upon to strike as heavy a blow as possible; so he not only opposes God's holy commandment, and calls the Sabbath of the Lord "the Jewish Sabbath," "the old law," "Sabbath of the Jews," &c.; but in his zeal, brands all Sabbath-keepers with heresy, Judaism, as falling from grace, &c., and represents those who present the claims of the fourth commandment as fanatical, wicked and dangerous men, and perhaps charges the people not to go and hear them. This calls the carnal mind which "is not subject to the law of God," and all classes of opposers, from the haughty professor to the openly vicious, feel wonderfully comforted. We would not say that all ministers take this course. There are many exceptions: those "who search the Scriptures," like the noble Bereans, to see what they say on this question. But we do say that it is generally the case that ministers lead off in the opposition to the true Sabbath, which results in hatred to the Sabbath and Sabbath-keepers, and wrath which is evidently inspired by the dragon. Now if we should present the claims of nine precepts of the Decalogue, and say nothing of the fourth, would these ministers be troubled? Would they oppose us? Certainly they would not; neither would the people harbor feelings of antipathy against us. It is evident that the wrath of the dragon, and the war on the remnant, is in consequence of the Sabbath. We have made up our mind for a battle. War is inevitable. We have never expected that the message of the third angel would produce "the temporal millennium." Commandment-keepers at the most are to be only a "remnant," and they are to be brought into extreme perils, where they will need the consolations of the words of the Master: "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke xii, 32. "The time of trouble such as never was" is just before the little flock. But the duty of the remnant should here be considered. We can mention but a few things at this time. 1. Let the "war" be all on the side of the dragon. It is said, "And the dragon was wroth," and "went to make war with the remnant," while it is also said, "Here is the patience of the saints." But, thank Heaven, the Christian is not without an armor. "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Eph. vi, 11-17. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.)" 2 Cor. x, 3, 4. 2. Those who have the truth, should be active in presenting it to others in the best possible manner, and in every way by which men may be reached. What if it costs much labor to accomplish but little? One soul aroused from the death-like slumber that has come over the world and the church, and instructed in the way of truth and finally saved, is worth a thousand lives of toil. Who can estimate its value? It is inestimable. But God has opened the way for us to do much in his cause. Many are anxious to hear and read the reasons of our faith; but the dragon is even now doing all in his power to hinder the spread of truth. There is a lack of patience and perseverance with many. They become discouraged too easily. Just make up your minds for war, for battle, battle all the way to the kingdom, and do not be raised to high with a very fair prospect of success, neither be cast down when the cause of truth moves slowly. A great work is yet to be accomplished, and it will require spirited efforts on the part of the friends of truth. But what are we doing as a people? We talk of living in the period of the last message of mercy to man, but are our acts in accordance with our profession? A few, very few, feel deeply, and act promptly; but it is to be feared that many who profess the present truth are too worldly, and are careless and stupid as to their own salvation, and that of those around them. What are we as a people sacrificing in this cause? Many talk of having all on the altar, a sacrifice to the Lord, while at the same time they do not use to37advance the cause, one tenth part of the yearly increase of their property. This is the case with many, while a few are even adding house to house and land to land, and are heaping up their interest-money for the last days. Such should blush to talk of having "all upon the altar," a sacrifice to the Lord. Does a sacrifice hold good, and increase? "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days." James v, 1-3. There are those among us who, when they belonged to a sectarian church gave liberally to build meeting-houses and support ministers, who do not now give a tenth part as much to support the present truth. Does not this show that sectarianism had ten-fold more influence over them than Bible truth now has? Surely this is tapering the wrong way. We give it as our conviction, that the ten-fold should be the other way. At least, they should do much more now than they did then, or such should cease talking about the third angel's message, and having all on the altar. Read Luke xii, 32-36, and tell us when it applies, if not to the present time. "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms: provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." Luke xii, 32-36. We would have none take the extreme view of this text; but it does appear to us like strange delusion to claim to be of the little flock here addressed, and to claim to keep the "faith of Jesus" as well as the commandments of God, and at the same time be buried up in the cares of this world, seeking to amass wealth, and giving very little to advance the cause of truth. 3. Those who give of their means, should do it understandingly. There are those who, at least, occasionally labor among you in word and doctrine, in whom you and all the churches of God's remnant people, have confidence. They suffer many deprivations, and are wearing themselves out in their labors of love. Do you esteem them as you should? See 1 Thess. v, 12, 13. Do you inquire of their wants, and supply them? You can relieve, strengthen, and cheer them in their toils by your means, prayers and tokens of love for them. In this way you may hold up their hands. Again, the greatest care has been taken to prepare publications for you to circulate; such as you need not hesitate to recommend to your friends. We are satisfied that much of the work in the wide field must be done by circulating publications. We have more than one thousand dollars' worth of Tracts on hand, which we have prepared for you, and can sell (one dollars' worth or more) 2000 pages for one dollar. At this price there is no real profit, yet we have run the risk to borrow the means expended in publishing them, confidently expecting you would want them to circulate, either to sell, give to your friends, or to lend. Every Sabbath-keeper should have at least, a full library to lend to his neighbors.