p. 205 | SABBATH DISCUSSION by M. E. Cornell

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Apr 3, 1855

SABBATH DISCUSSION.

By M. E. Cornell

BRO. WHITE:—I have just had the privilege of discussing with a Christian minister, the following proposition, viz: “Does the New Testament enjoin the observance of the Seventh-day Sabbath.” We continued upon this question three days. The audience was large and attentive. We led out with an argument founded upon Matt. v, 17–19; Mark ii, 27. Eld. D. replied that the law expired by limitation, and was thus fulfilled. He cited Deut. iv, 13, to prove that the covenant of Sinai was the ten commandments, and Heb. viii, 7, to show that the covenant (ten commands) was faulty. We then proceeded to show that the ten commands were the conditions of the Sinaitic covenant, and cited Heb. viii, 8, 9, to show that the reason why the old covenant was faulty was because the people broke the conditions. We then quoted Mark ii, 27; Ex. xxxi, 13–17; Eze. xx, 12, 20, and the fourth commandment to show the design of the sabbatic institution, and Gen. ii, 1–3, to show when, how, and by whom, the Sabbath was made. Eld. D. quoted Deut. v, 15, to show that the Sabbath was a memorial of the Exodus from Egypt, and argued that the Sabbath was not binding upon men before the Exodus, from the fact that there is no record of its being commanded before. We then challenged him to find the record of the first three commandments before Sinai, and argued that if the first three could be in force 2500 years and we not have a record of their being commanded, so could the fourth. This argument he did not attempt to answer during the discussion.

We presented testimony for two distinct laws. To show that there was before Christ a perfect law, we referred to Neh. ix, 13, 14; Ps. xix, 7. Eld. D. replied that Ps. xix, 7, was a prophecy of the law of Christ, that David was a prophet, &c. We then quoted John iii, 17, to show that Jesus did not come to give a law to condemn, but to save men from condemnation. Eld. D. replied that Christ came to save men because the means then in use was inadequate to save men; that the old law was not intended to make men perfect. As I have not time to write out all the positions taken, for the sake of brevity I will copy from my memorandum some of Eld. D.’s main propositions and follow with my remarks as answers.

Eld. D. quoted Luke xvi, 16, and argued that the law abolished itself when John came. But subsequently he quoted Col. ii, 14, 17, to prove that Christ abolished the law at the cross.

Query: if the law abolished itself during John’s ministry, how could Christ abolish it three and a half years afterwards?

Eld. D. Jesus taught the disciples to break the Jewish Sabbath when he told the man to carry his bed, because there was no necessity for moving the bed until the next day. The Jews could not keep the law. Proof, Acts xv, 10. Argues from Rom. vii, that the law was the husband of the Jews.

We answered that God was the husband of the Jews, and quoted Jer. xxxi, 32.

Eld. D. The Sabbath was given to the Jews only.

Ans. “The Sabbath was made for man.” Mark ii, 27.

Eld. D. Moral law is eternal. The Sabbath is not eternal, and therefore is not moral.

Ans. The reason which God gave for keeping the Sabbath, (Ex. xx, 11,) is eternal, therefore the Sabbath is eternal. Also Isa. lxvi, 22, 23.

Eld. D. We all know that which is eternal, is at least as old as the world, and the Sabbath commandment lacks six days of it.

Ans. See “Eternal damnation” which lacks at least 6000 years. Mark iii, 29.

Eld. D. The Sabbath was not known until the tables of stone were known.

Ans. See Mark ii, 27; Gen. ii, 1–3; Ex. xvi, 23, 26, 29. Before he had admitted that the Sabbath was known 30 days before spoken on Mt. Sinai.

Eld. D. God is the only eternal being.

Ans. According to Webster, “eternal” signifies endless. Angels never will die. Luke xx, 36; therefore angels are eternal beings also.

Eld. D. God did not institute the moral law: it always existed. The nine precepts on the tables of stone are moral precepts and govern God. These are eternal therefore moral. The Sabbath is not eternal therefore not moral.

Ans. Query: How can the fifth commandment govern God when he is the Father of all? How can God covet or steal when he possesses all things?

Eld. D. The law of the ten commandments was the only law given on Horeb. The rest was given before and after. The ceremonial law was not written on stone.

Ans. Here is a plain admission of two laws. He said our strength was in the two-law position, and denied there being two laws until his last speech, when in dodging another point he unintentionally admitted two laws.

Eld. D. The eternal law of Heb. vii, 16, 18, 19, is the law of Paul’s members. Rom. vii, 23. In order to make out two laws the brother has taken the law of Paul’s mind and the law of his members, and set them against each other.

Ans. Query: How could the law of Paul’s members regulate the Levitical priesthood, when Paul was not converted until after that priesthood was abolished?

Eld. D. The nine commandments were not abolished. They were moral and could not be abolished.

Ans. Before he had said that others of the ten precepts, besides the fourth, were not moral.

Eld. D. The precept “Thou shalt not swear,” (Matt. v, 34,) is a moral precept, and always existed, although not commanded until by Christ. It forbids an immoral action and therefore is moral.

Ans. This statement was made as an offset to my statement that there is no new moral precept in the New Testament. See Deut. vi, 13. “Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.” Now if “swear not” be a moral precept, then God has commanded men to do an immoral action. If “oath taking” is immoral now, it always was immoral, for Eld. D. said that moral precepts always existed and govern God.

Eld. D., after quoting Col. ii, 14–17, to demolish the seventh-day Sabbath, undertook to build up on the ruins a first-day Sabbath, by quoting Acts xx, 7; John xx, 19, 26; Rev. i, 10; 1 Cor. xvi, 1, 2; Adam Clarke’s comments, and a quotation from ‘Barnabas, of the Apocryphal New Testament.

After the discussion was closed, Eld. D. called on me, and said he must tell me he believed I was dishonest. I wished to know wherein. He replied, “In quoting Acts 18: and saying that Paul continued in Corinth a year and six months and preached 78 Sabbaths.” Eld. D. affirmed that Paul left the city of Corinth and went to another city and preached a year and six months. The truthfulness of the scripture was verified where it says, “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” 1 Cor. iii, 19.

At the close of the last speech an aged gentlemen of considerable intelligence arose, and proposed another question for discussion, viz: “Does the New Testament enjoin the observance of the first-day Sabbath?” Eld. D. engaged to meet me at some future day upon this question.

This discussion was the means of establishing some in the keeping of the fourth commandment. Others are investigating.

When learned men oppose God’s truth, their learning is of but little use. The truth is mighty and will surely prevail. Amen! M. E. CORNELL.