“DISCUSSION ON THE SABBATH.”
By R. F. Cotrell
“Our late discussion, in Boston, on the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath, was of considerable interest. Several, who had been troubled with doubts, had them all removed by the plain teachings of the Bible, and are more than ever resolved to be Christ's instead of Moses' disciples. They have concluded to leave the law—the 'school-master,'—and follow Jesus, preferring the new to the old covenant; the liberty of the gospel, to the bondage of the law.—a World's Crisis. We learn from the above that some, in Boston and vicinity, “had been troubled with doubts.” Doubts of what? Whether they would be Christ's or Moses' disciples, it would seem. It is a wonder that the brethren of the Crisis, who are professedly looking for the second advent of Jesus Christ, should fall into doubts about being Christ's disciples. Has any one, at this late day, been teaching, “That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses?” It is strange that such teachers should have any influence, since that question was settled by the apostles themselves, more than eighteen hundred years ago. Acts xv. But, very happily, their doubts have been “all removed by the plain teachings of the Bible,” and they are “more than ever resolved to be Christ's instead of Moses' disciples.” Good! “They have concluded to leave the law—the 'school-master'—and follow Christ.” Then they were actually Jews, it seems, and have been converted to Christ; for how could they leave the law who had never kept it? Enough of irony. Eld. G. knows that it is easier to throw dust than to build a turnpike. I venture the assertion, that no Jews were converted at the discussion; and that none of his brethren had thought seriously of giving up Christ for Judaism. The question discussed related to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment—an institution ordained for man in Eden, thousands of years before the old covenant was made with the Jewish people. It is no wonder that people who are living in violation of the fourth commandment, should have doubts, and fears also, that they will not be able to stand in the great day of God's wrath. I know some of the readers of the Crisis that are thus troubled, and who say they would like to see, in the Crisis, some of those “plain teachings of the Bible,” adduced in the debate. They would be better satisfied to see them, than merely to hear of them. They are under the “bondage of the law,” and will be till they forsake their sin of Sabbath-breaking, and come to Christ for pardon. Unless, indeed, the Crisis, or some one, can produce something to quiet their consciences, and make them “more than ever resolved” to continue in disobedience. May God save them from the fatal opiate, and bring them into the liberty of God's people. Says David, “I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy precepts.” “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Ps. cxix. R. F. COTRELL.