REPORT FROM BRO. BATES.
By Joseph Bates
BRO. SMITH: The churches in Caledonia and Bowne have been laboring to overcome the besetments of the enemy of all righteousness, and set things in order, and move onward in harmony and union in this closing work of the third angel's message. I have been dividing my labors with them since the first of May, during which time the way has opened for several meetings in which to proclaim the truth connected with the last message of mercy. Last evening at the close of the Sabbath we had a good free meeting in a new place in an unoccupied new house, belonging to a family who had just begun to keep the Sabbath. They had been listening to the age-to-come and no-Sabbath doctrine, but have decided to "obey God rather than man." Mr. O. R. L. Crosier, whose residence is hereabouts, is still engaged in the cause of his aged employer, circulating his report that the Sabbath was abolished when the Lord Jesus was crucified; consequently no living being is bound to keep it under the gospel dispensation. Some of his hearers laud him as a most wonderful preacher, and there need be no marvel at this, so long as he preaches such a wonderful doctrine. If Mr. C. and his admirers continue to circulate their wonderful doctrine that God's holy law is abolished, in part or the whole, they can at the same time read their own condemnation to death in the following words of inspiration: "To be carnally minded is death, . . . because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. viii, 7, 8. "Not subject to the law of God," that is, not living in obedience to the law of God. The law of God is a whole law of ten precepts. For proof of this, read the apostle's testimony in chap. vii, 1, 7, 12, 14, 22, 25. Will an objection be urged because it reads in verse 6, "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held?" Then the marginal reading compared with the first clause of verse 4, will answer the objection that Paul's brethren are dead to the law. See also Macknight's translation. It is clear then, that all those who teach and believe that a part or the whole of the law of God was abolished when the Saviour died on the cross, are not, neither indeed can be, subject, or obedient, to that portion of the law which they teach is abolished. That no part or portion of the law of God was abolished, or changed when the apostle Paul penned this epistle to the Romans, in A. D. 60, twenty-nine years after the Saviour died on the cross, is evident from the six verses already quoted. In chap. vii, 1, he shows the utter impossibility of its ever being changed or abolished, because he declares the law [law of God] "hath dominion over a man (every man) as long as he liveth." Why I particularly speak of Mr. Crosier in this article is, that he made it a point (as I am told) to follow me where I had given seven lectures, two of which were on the Bible Sabbath, where some decided to observe it, and taught that there was no Sabbath binding since the crucifixion. A few evenings since, I preached there again, and endeavored to show the perpetuity of the Sabbath. We had a good season attending to the ordinance of22baptism in Caledonia the 6th inst. Five were buried in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life. There were several other candidates held back by influences beyond their control at present. Caledonia, Mich., May 20th, 1860.