p. 164 | WHERE IS IT? by A. S. Hutchins

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 9, 1860

WHERE IS IT?

By A. S. Hutchins

WHERE is the Bible proof for Sunday-keeping? This question is before the public, and has been for a long time. The Bible student, the teacher and preacher, have been, and still are, invited to furnish us with one text which contains a divine command for the observance of the first day of the week, instead of the seventh, as the Sabbath; but we are not pointed to the chapter nor verse where such testimony may be found.

Many who once honestly supposed themselves doing the will of God in keeping the first day as the Sabbath, are now altogether dissatisfied with the evidences offered and urged in support of this institution, and are taking a stand with the people of God in keeping all the commandments.

Sinners are being slain by the law, and learning by happy and blest experience that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Yea, they are ready to exclaim, "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Rom. vii, 12.

Now if we are on unscriptural ground, and are leading souls into darkness and away from God, by teaching the perpetuity of the royal law, by instructing men to obey the fourth commandment of the decalogue, why does not some one point out the wrong, and show us the right way?

But we ask, Are we not sustained in taking the Bible as the rule of our faith on this subject, by a host of the eminently pious and learned whose writings are before us, and in keeping the law of God as taught in the decalogue? Do not the creeds of the different churches most conclusively teach the perpetuity of the moral law? Hear their testimony.

The F. W. Baptist Treatise says, "THE SCRIPTURES OUR ONLY RULE OF FAITH AND PRACTICE. The Holy Scriptures are the writings of the Old and New Testaments. The apostle says [2 Tim. iii, 16, 17], 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.' Consequently, the Scriptures have the highest authority over man, so far as they reveal the will of God concerning his duty, and should be known, believed and obeyed, without addition, deduction or alteration." Pages 9-12. This is strong language in favor of the word of God, their "ONLY RULE OF FAITH AND PRACTICE." But how much of it is used in defense of the first-day theory, may be seen from the following extract:

"The Sabbath. This is a seventh part of time [the Bible says the seventh day] which from the creation of the world, God has set apart for a day of sacred rest and holy service. It was included in the ten commandments written on tables of stone, and given to Moses on mount Sinai. Nature itself teaches the necessity of its observance. Its obligation is taught both in the New and Old Testaments, and is to continue with that of the other commandments till the end of time. As the law of the Sabbath was at first given to the whole world, it requires all men on this day [not a seventh part of time] to refrain from all servile labor, and devote themselves entirely to the service of the God that made them." Pages 76, 77.

The above is most a decisive testimony in favor of the unending obligation of the fourth commandment upon man. Had the F. W. B. here stated that "the seventh day is the Sabbath," instead of saying it is "a seventh part of time," we could have most cheerfully endorsed all thus far said on this subject.

But what proof do they bear to the world that God's holy rest-day has been changed, and that we are no longer bound to observe it? Read the following:

"From the creation of the world, the seventh day of the week was observed as the Sabbath. But, since the resurrection of Christ the first day of the week has been kept instead of the seventh. It is inferred from the following, that this change was made by Christ or his apostles. 1. The seventh day was observed in remembrance of the work of creation, but as the work of redemption is greater than that of creation, it appears more suitable that the day on which it was completed by the resurrection of Christ should be observed in remembrance of this greater and more important event. 2. From the Scriptures, it is evident that the primitive Christians frequently assembled on the first day of the week for worship."

Not one text is even referred to by the Treatise in support of this institution, and yet it declares that the Scriptures should be "known, believed and obeyed, without addition, deduction or alteration." When my attention was first called to the subject of the Sabbath, nine years since, the feebleness of the above testimony for Sunday-keeping, made a deep impression upon my mind, and did much to urge me from the church to a stand with those who keep all God's commandments; for it seemed to me that to ask one "thus saith the Lord," for the position I occupied, was not too much, which I knew had not been given.

Again, if this denomination can change the definite article into the indefinite (as on this subject) without doing violence to the word of God, and mangling its sense and robbing it of its definiteness, then I know not how far their license extends. The language of inspiration is, "Ye shall not add unto the word I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Deut. iv, 2.

Equally decisive and important is the testimony on this point, from the M. E. Discipline, "The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation."

Can a commandment be read from the Holy Scriptures for Sunday observance? If not according to the above it is not "requisite or necessary to salvation."

Again, the same book states that "no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral."

Catechism No. 1, of the same church, under "God's Law," asks:

"Q. What does God require of man?" "A. Obedience to his revealed will." "Q. What is the rule of our obedience?" "A. The moral law." "Q. Where is the moral law given?" "A. In the ten commandments. Ex. xx." Then follows the ten commandments without note or comment.

Add to the above an extract from the Baptismal Covenant, and the candidate is bound for life to keep these commandments. "Having been baptized in this faith, I will obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life. God being my helper."

We might multiply evidences from creeds and commentators in favor of God's law, I know not to how great an extent. But where shall be found one iota of proof for Sunday observance? It is not in the Bible. Where then is it? Echo answers, "WHERE?"