A New Dodge by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 23, 1861

A New Dodge.

By Editor

It is surprising to see the number of positions taken, and the amount of ingenuity expended in building up new theories, merely to avoid some unwelcome truth, for there are many positions taken, and much strength put forth in their defense for no other object. It may not be apparent, at first, how it happens that there are found those who are ready to advocate the abolition of the ten commandments at the cross of Christ; but when we press them for the reasons of their position, we find that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment stands directly in their way, and the idea of the abolition of the law is a mere shift to get rid of that. We venture the assertion (and do not consider it any great venture either) that there could not a solitary individual be found to advocate the abolition of the law, or who would object to the whole code of the ten commandments existing right along in all their force in this dispensation, were it not for the Sabbath commandment which demands as plainly as language can do it, that the seventh day of each week be devoted to the especial service of God. To avoid this, they have invented, and still contend for, the idea that the whole code went by the board at the crucifixion of Christ. And then they go to work and patch up a new system, and incorporate into it just as many commandments as will suit their purpose, omitting, of course, the fourth.

A new shift of the same nature has just come to light. Bro. Bostwick calls for a criticism on Matt. xxviii, 1 (which we give in this number), saying that the opponents of the truth in his section are trying to make a great point out of that verse, by claiming that the day commences at sunrise instead of at sunset. What is their object in this? It is merely to overthrow the argument we raise on Acts xx, 7, whereby we prove that Paul traveled on Sunday and therefore regarded it, not as a Sabbath, but as a secular day. For if the day begins at sunrise, a meeting held in the evening of the first day, as in that instance, would be on what is now called Sunday night, and Paul's traveling on the next day, would be on Monday, and not on Sunday; whereas if the day begins at sunset, as the Bible declares, the meeting at Troas was on what is now called Saturday night, and Paul started off upon his journey on Sunday morning, thus dealing a most leveling blow against the Sunday institution. It is no wonder that they should wish to devise some plan by which to invalidate the testimony of that text; but the shift they make to accomplish their purpose, reminds us of the tricks of politicians and demagogues, who resort to any means to carry their points, at however great a sacrifice of honesty and justice.