THE LAST WORK OF THE TRUE CHURCH
By M. E. Cornell
“Bind up the testimony : seal the law among my disciples.” The position being now established that the fourth commandment is the Seal of the law, we are prepared to understand the testimony of the prophets respecting the nature of the work of unsealing. And as Jesus testifies that the prophets as well as the law, will remain until heaven and earth pass away, [Matt. v. 18,] and as heaven and earth yet remain, we can with confidence call on the prophets to testify concerning the work of unsealing the law, and unbinding the testimony.229The prophet Isaiah has a view of this work and also of its effects upon the world, when he says, “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” Isa. xxiv, 5. The Catholic church changed the ordinance of baptism, by substituting sprinkling. When this was done the true memorial of Christ’s resurrection was gone, and an excuse was framed for introducing the first day of the week to be observed in commemoration of that event, calling it the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Thus the true Sabbath was crowded out, the law transgressed, and the ordinance changed. In the beginning this was the modus operandi of unsealing the law. In this was fulfilled the words of the prophet Daniel: while speaking of the work of the Catholic church, he said: “And he shall think to change times and laws,” &c. Dan. vii, 25. Also in chap. viii, 12, speaking of the same power, he says: “It cast down the truth to the ground,” &c. The fourth commandment in the law relates to time; and in changing the Sabbath the man of sin has changed the time; not only the entire day, but also God’s time for commencing the day. Thus the entire commandment is destroyed, cast down to the ground. And (as already remarked) this commandment contains God’s seal; and when attached to the law becomes the seal of the law; therefore when separated from the law, (as it has been by the man of sin,) the law is left without a seal; hence the propriety of the command, “Seal the law among my disciples.” The testimony of the prophet Jeremiah is also in harmony with the above. Speaking of the same dreadful work, he says: “Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways, from the ancient paths to walk in paths in a way not cast up.” Jer. xviii, 15. This text is a vivid description of the world at the present time. Having left the ancient paths, (ways of God,) the mass of the human family are stumbling and falling in their own ways, following the traditions of men. And this has been the condition of the world ever since the apostasy, when the true church went into the wilderness. Rev. xii, 6. Anti-christ took off the seal from God’s law, and taught that to keep Sunday strictly was obedience to the fourth commandment; and the inhabitants of earth have believed the lie, with very few exceptions, as saith the Prophet: [Hos. x, 12:] “Ye have ploughed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity, ye have eaten the fruit of lies, because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” While presenting to the people the clear light now shining out in regard to the true Sabbath, we often see demonstrations of the fulfillment of this prophecy. We show men that there is no divine authority for Sunday-keeping, and call upon them to leave that false way of papacy, and seal the law, but they refuse; and among the numerous excuses and queries which they present are the following: Says one: “Why has not this been found out before?” Another cries out, “Why! only think of it! so many good and smart men have lived and died keeping Sunday, it must be right.” Another says, “I will risk myself keeping the day my father and grandfather taught me to keep.” Only think, says another, of the multitude of mighty men who have believed and taught that Sunday was the right day? Both priests and people will cry, “The fathers!” “The fathers!” and each generation since the reformation commenced has had as much confidence in the fathers as the present; and this accounts for the fact that some of the lies of papacy are universally taught and believed by almost all Protestant christendom at the present time; and in this is fulfilled the words of the prophet where he says, “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances and have not kept them.” Mal. iii, 7. In the light of these scriptures it cannot be unreasonable to expect that as long as men “plough wickedness,” (spiritualize the word,) they will continue to reap iniquity; and as long as they “trust in the multitude of their mighty men,” (more than in God’s word,) they will continue to “eat the fruit of lies.” And as long as they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, their worship will be vain, and the commandment of God will be laid aside, rejected, and made of none effect by their traditions, according to the testimony of Jesus, Mark vii, 7-13. Having now fully demonstrated by the prophets that the law and testimony have been changed, scattered and made void, we will proceed to show that the prophets have also spoken of a restitution of these, and the reasons why they should be restored. The apostle Peter, speaking of the return of Jesus Christ, says: “Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Acts iii, 21. The heavens are to receive (or retain) Jesus until the times (or years) of restitution. But restitution of what? Is it the restitution of all wicked men and devils, as some would have us believe? We answer, No; because they are not among the all things which God hath spoken by the prophets that should be restored. It becomes us then not to be hasty or rash and claim from this text the universal, unconditional salvation of all men: but candidly inquire what “things” has God said by the prophets should be restored? The prophet Ezekiel speaks of a special preparation with reference to the day of the Lord. He says, “O Israel, thy prophets are like foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, (or breaches, margin,) neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.” Eze. xiii, 4, 5. This shows that there must be a “restoring” or “making up” before Israel (God’s people) can stand in the time of trouble. God’s people are faulty yet, but we learn from Rev. xiv, 5, that the company which go through and stand on Mt. Zion are without fault; and it appears very reasonable that those who are found worthy of being translated without tasting death should be without fault; hence the propriety of the message (to the remnant who are to be alive and remain) “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples;” for it is evident that the disciples cannot be without fault while violating one of the commands of God, or neglecting one of the precepts of Jesus Christ. We will now return to a passage in Mal. iii, 7, a portion of which we have already quoted. After declaring that the people had gone away from him, from the days of their fathers, God says, “Return unto me and I will return unto you,” &c; and in verse 10, he gives his people the assurance that if they will bring all the tithes (tenth parts) into the store-house, he will pour out a blessing which they will lack room to receive. Mal. iii, 1, 2, is a description of the change of the position of our great High Priest, to minister as messenger of the covenant in the second apartment of the Sanctuary, which took place at the end of the two thousand and three hundred days, [Dan. viii, 14,] in A. D. 1844, “When the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.” See Rev. xv, 5. See also a tract on the 2300 days and Sanctuary, by Uriah Smith. Verse 3, represents Jesus as waiting until his disciples are purified so that they will offer an offering in righteousness; (or according to the rule of right which is the ten commandments;) and when this is done the result is stated in verse 4: “Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old, and as in the former (margin, ancient) years.” In the days of the apostles the offering of God’s people was “pleasant” because it was perfect. They kept all of the ten commandments, and kept them right; and they also observed every precept of Jesus Christ. But that mystery of iniquity (which Paul said had already begun to work in his day) continued to work until the “falling away;” (departing from the law and testimony;) [2 Thess. ii, 3, 7] and since that time the church has been in the wilderness, and their offerings have been imperfect; and before the atonement can be made for those who now live, they must heed the command to Bind up the testimony, and seal the law; as the prophet says: “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.” Jer. vi, 16. Those who refuse to walk in the old paths, are spoken of in verse 10: “The word was unto them a reproach and they have no delight in it.” We have seen a striking fulfillment of this prophecy when we have heard individuals say, “I should think you would be ‘ashamed’ to go back and take up that old Jewish Sabbath, and become a laughing-stock, and odd from every body else,” &c. Such are spoken of again in verse 15: “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? (trampled under foot God’s holy day?) nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush; therefore they shall fall,” &c. Instead of being ashamed and sorry that they have so long violated one of the plainest precepts of God’s law, the mass are ashamed to leave the traditions of their fathers, because they have become so popular, and to leave them is a reproach; therefore they continue to reject the message that God has sent, saying, Return to the ancient paths, and they ignorantly and blindly refuse to walk therein. That it is God’s plan that his people in the last days should leave the traditions of men and walk in his ways perfectly is clearly manifest from Isa. lviii, 12, 13. After declaring that the fast which he accepts is to loose the bands of wickedness and let the oppressed go free, and declares that such shall call and he will answer and guide them continually, &c.; he says, “They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places, thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations, and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.” And the next verse brings to view one of the things to be restored; viz., The true Sabbath, concerning which he says, “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable, and shalt honor him, not doing thine own way,” &c. Men have trodden under foot God’s Sabbath the same as they have Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath; i. e., by entirely neglecting it; [see Heb. x, 29] and instead of calling it the “holy of the Lord” and “honorable,” they have regarded it as dishonorable, and have called it the “Old Jewish Sabbath.” Thus God’s holy institution has been stigmatized and cast down; which has made a breach in his law: and Sunday-keeping is now offered to God for obedience to the fourth precept in his law, which requires the observance of the seventh day. As well might a man offer his creditor a counterfeit bank note, to cancel an honest debt. He will not accept it; and if he can prove that his debtor knows it to be counterfeit, woe be unto him: he will soon receive the wages of fraud and dishonesty. The first-day Sabbath is a counterfeit; and notwithstanding the Catholic church has always declared it to be good and true, and the majority of professed christians at the present time believe it, yet the Bible (the great detector issued by the bank of heaven) proves it to be spurious not bearing one single mark of the genuine. The great Creator of the heavens and earth (the President of the bank) has never placed his signature to this institution. That mystery of iniquity continued to work until there was such a mist before all eyes, that men were totally disqualified to distinguish between truth and error. Being thus prepared, Satan through his agents palmed off upon them this counterfeit sabbath. The mass received it no doubt, honestly supposing it to be the true Sabbath for this dispensation. But why were they not aware of the deception, while having the Bible (God’s great detector) which never failed to point out (in a definite manner) every false way. We confidently affirm that it was because false teaching had prepared their minds to regard the Bible as a book of mysteries, having a hidden or internal meaning; and although it plainly says, THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH, yet it means one seventh part of all the days, and no day in particular. What an absurdity! and yet this is a fair representation of the universal sentiment of most professors of religion at the present time in regard to the Sabbatic institution. Now all must admit that the external word defines one particular day for the Sabbath; but most religionists claim that the internal meaning is no day in particular. If this explanation of the fourth commandment were to establish a precedent for the interpretation of all the rest, it would make a complete jargon of nonsense. That law which the Scriptures represent as a plain path, and a definite rule, would become, with such an interpretation, the height of indefiniteness; and the precepts which God took pains to write upon tables of stone would be transformed into a mere code of undefinables. According to the Bible, the indebtedness of all men to God is perfect obedience to his moral law of ten commands. Such being the fact, will God accept of that counterfeit sabbath, and cancel their obligations to the fourth commandment? It does not seem possible; and yet, as God is merciful, he may grant pardon to those who were honestly deceived in past time, and in all good conscience kept the first day, supposing it to be the true Sabbath, before the light came; but what shall be our conclusion concerning a large portion of professed christians who have seen the light and confess that the seventh day is the true Bible Sabbath, but because of the cross, endeavor to satisfy their consciences by saying, “It don't make230any difference which day if we only keep one seventh part of time,” &c. Will this excuse avail in the day of reckoning? or will such be weighed in the balances and found wanting? We judge no man. Let every man judge himself with the following scriptures before him: “This is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John iii, 19. “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” Verse 21. “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least,” &c. “For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. v, 19, 20. “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matt. xix, 17. “Whosoever shall keep (profess to keep) the whole law, and yet offend in one point (or precept) he is guilty of all.” James ii, 10. “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. vi, 23. From the scriptures which we have now examined, it is very plain that the prophets have spoken of the present state of the world, and the relation which all sustain to the law and testimony, showing that they have wandered far away from the original paths, and are now occupying the position described in Jer. ii, 11, “Hath a nation changed her gods which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished O ye heavens at this and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils, they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Men have forsaken God, in departing from his precepts and institutions; and they have hewed them out cisterns, by inventing institutions and ordinances of their own, to take the place of those which God has given. Where is the man that is so blind that he cannot see that most of the professed people of God since the apostasy have taken the liberty to vary from the perfect rules which God has given? as though God had spoken some words in vain, and does not mean exactly what he says? We will now examine some of the precepts and practices of the so-called Christian churches of this country, and note some of the many variations from the plain precepts and examples of Christ and the apostles. This is an unpleasant task; yet if we would obey God and follow his directions strictly (which every messenger of God is bound to do) we must not neglect this important duty; for God says, “Cry aloud, spare not: lift up thy voice like a trumpet and show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways as a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of their God.” Isa. lviii, 1. Here a class of people are described as being transgressors, having forsaken the ordinance of God, &c., and yet God calls them his people. Where are God’s people, if not in the protestant churches of our land? Anciently the Jews were called God’s people; but as this prophecy locates itself upon the present generation, (and as the different protestant denominations are nearest in harmony with God’s plan as revealed in his word, of any of the large bodies of religionists of the present day,) we conclude that they are referred to in this prophecy. With this view of the subject, we shall be in perfect keeping with the word of God, and be in the line of duty, while we point out the erroneous teachings and practice of these times of peril and awful apostasy. Indeed some of the popular ministers of the day begin to utter sentiments in keeping with the above. In proof of this we will here insert an extract from a sermon entitled, “A Sermon for the times,” lately delivered at Jackson, Mich., by a Methodist minister, and published by request. On the 4th page of the sermon, speaking of political men, he says: “Let us earnestly exhort and entreat them to respect the law of God; and let us try their actions by that law, as revealed in his holy word. And, as in the presence of Jehovah, let us solemnly ‘protest’ against all their wrong doings. Let not their profession as politicians screen them. No man’s profession should screen him from the rebukes of the divine law. No man’s profession can deliver him from its awful penalty.” Coming from such a source, and acknowledged as these sentiments are by men of intelligence and influence, to be such as should be disseminated at the present time, we seize upon this quotation as a rare specimen not often met with in a time of universal reign of the spirit of lawlessness like the present. God’s law then “as revealed in his word” should try the actions of all men of whatever profession; and as no man’s profession can deliver him from the awful penalty of the law, we will as God’s watchmen faithfully show God’s people their transgressions: and solemnly protest against all their wrong doings. As we have already stated, men have taken the liberty to vary from the plain, literal word, and in this way have run into many fatal errors. In proof of this, we refer to the teaching and practice of many in regard to baptism. They teach that baptism is not essential to salvation. Now the gospel represents three steps which must be taken by the sinner in order to justification for past transgression; viz., 1. Repentance. 2. Faith. 3. Baptism. These are associated together in the gospel plan, and made equally prominent. But let us inquire of some of the popular divines of the present day, and note the contrast:
Question. Can we be saved without repentance?
Answer. Certainly not.
Ques. Can we be saved without faith?
Ans. By no means.
Ques. Can we be saved without baptism?
Ans. It is just as you feel about it: it is not essential. Now compare this with the words of Christ. “He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved.” Mark xvi, 16. If baptism is not essential why was Jesus particular to specify, “and is baptized?” Again: Why did Jesus tell Paul to go to Damascus and it should be told him what he “must do,” [Acts ix, 6,] after he had taken the two first steps of repentance and faith? He goes to Damascus, and the very first act of obedience required by Ananias was that he should “arise and be baptized and wash away his sins,” &c. Acts xxii, 16. Paul had been brought up under the Jewish economy, where there was a legal act to be performed after repentance and faith, in order to remission of sins; to wit, the offering of the sacrifice called a sin offering; and Paul supposed there must be legality and order in God’s plan in this dispensation also; therefore he inquires, “What wilt thou have me to do?” Before Christ came, the legal work which “must” be done was the ceremony of offering sacrifices. This was a type and pointed forward to Christ, whose blood alone can take away sin. But now the legal ceremony which must be performed on our part, is baptism, which is a memorial and points back to the same event; viz., the offering of Christ. See Rom. vi, 3-5. Now by what authority do men say that the memorial pointing back, is of less importance than the type which pointed forward? Again: Men have varied from the pattern by instituting sprinkling and pouring, for baptism, which they perform oft times in the meeting-house far out of the water. This they could not do if they followed the example of Christ as near as possible: (and there can be no danger of coming too near a perfect pattern:) they must follow him down “into the water” and “up out of the water.” Paul teaches that we are to be planted or buried with Christ by baptism, and to be in the likeness of Christ’s death; clearly showing that baptism is a memorial of Christ’s burial and resurrection? These two words, “planted” and “buried” are sufficient to settle the question as to the true mode of baptism. It cannot be said with the least degree of propriety, that a man is buried in any sense whatever, by having a few drops of water sprinkled on his head; neither planted; for men do not plant by sprinkling a few particles of dust upon the grain, but they completely bury it with earth. But men have varied from the testimony of Jesus in many respects, which we cannot here notice at length. Lest we overtax the patience of the reader, we will here introduce a brief contrast between the doctrines of men, and the doctrine of Christ, which will clearly show how the testimony of Jesus has been neglected, unbound and scattered.231“Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9. “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark vii, 7. “One Lord, one faith and one baptism.” Eph. iv, 5. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Cor. xii, 13. “I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ, that in every thing ye are enriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. So that ye come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. i, 4-7. “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.” Luke xvi, 31. “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matt. vii, 12. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets.” Matt. v, 17. “By patient continuance . . . seek for immortality.” Rom. ii, 7. “If the dead rise not, then they which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” 1 Cor. xv, 16-18. “And they rested the Sabbath day, according to the commandment.” Luke xxiii, 56. “And Paul as his manner was taught on the Sabbath day.” Acts xvii, 2. It matters not what kind of doctrine, or what system a man embraces if he is only sincere. Many lords, many faiths, and three or four kinds of baptism. For by many spirits are we all baptized into different bodies; whether we be Catholics or Protestants; but have all drank into one spirit, (even the spirit of the world.) We thank the Lord in behalf of the church in these days, that she has no supernatural gifts, neither has she the testimony of Jesus (the spirit of prophecy) and she comes behind in all gifts; nor is she waiting for or expecting the coming of the Lord: for he has come once, and when he will come again we don’t know, and it don’t make any difference. As for Moses and the prophets, we have nothing to do with them, for they were abolished long ago. And although our relatives have not yet been raised from the dead, yet their spirits come back, and comfort mourning circles, and rap out many warnings, and useful communications. Because the law and prophets taught that we should do by others, as we would have others do by us, is not a sufficient reason now; for the law and prophets, and all the Old Testament is done away. We cannot help thinking that Christ abolished both law and prophets, because it has been the opinion of very many learned men. Our immortal souls are a part of God, therefore we have immortality also. All men have immortality; (immortal souls) hence there is no need of seeking for that which we already have in possession. Those who have fallen asleep in Christ are not perished, though there should never be a resurrection of the dead; for their immortal souls (the men proper) have gone to heaven to enjoy endless bliss. The soul is not to die for sin, because it is immortal and cannot die. Therefore the wages of sin is not death, but endless life in misery. Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan forty days, and we believe Christ to be the very and eternal God, therefore God can be tempted with evil. We rest on Sunday, not according to any commandment, but because it is the custom of the times. Our forefathers have taught and we have believed that it was Paul’s manner to preach on Sundays, therefore we meet on Sundays to follow apostolic example. “Blessed are they that do his (the Father’s) commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. xxii, 14. “And call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honorable.” Isa. lviii, 13. “Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy commandments.” Ps. cxix, 6. “This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,” &c. 2 Tim. iii, 1, 2. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Tim. iii, 13. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. iv. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. iii, 16, 17. It is not necessary to do the Father’s commandments now in order to obtain this great blessing; for they are abolished, and we have only to obey the precepts of Christ. The Sabbath is no delight to us; nor is it the holy of the Lord, neither do we call it honorable, but we name it the Old Jewish Sabbath, and in consequence of this stigma it has become dishonorable, therefore we keep Sunday. We should be ashamed to have respect for all of God’s commandments; because the fourth commandment specifies a day which it is now very unpopular to observe. We have a long time believed that in the last days the world would be converted, and the knowledge of God cover the earth as the waters do the sea. Wicked men and seducers shall wax better and better until all shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest; for the church hath expressly spoken that in the latter times Christ will come spiritually, when many, yea, all will forsake their evil ways, and give heed unto the true faith. The holy Scriptures with the writings of the “Fathers,” and “our discipline,” we deem sufficient for correction and instruction, without which man cannot be thoroughly furnished. The above contrast we submit for the consideration of the candid, believing it to be a fair representation of the popular sentiment, in relation to many points of doctrine. With this picture before us, how obvious appears the necessity of reform. How appropriate the command to “bind up the Testimony.”