DISCUSSION IN THE N. Y. TENT--TRUTH VICTORIOUS!
By J. M. Aldrich
DEAR BRO. WHITE : Believing that the readers of the Review are always interested in hearing of the triumphs of truth, and especially of "present truth," over the popular errors of these last days, I will try to impart a few words for their gratification in this respect by giving a brief notice of a very interesting discussion that was held at Eagle Harbor, N. Y., in the tent, on Sunday the 4th inst., between Bro. M. Hall and Eld. P. A. Smith, of Rochester, N. Y. QUESTION.--Resolved that the Sabbath of the 4th commandment is binding upon Christians. Bro. Hall affirmed; Eld. Smith denied. The discussion commenced at 10 o'clock A. M., and each disputant delivered seven half-hour speeches. The audience was very large--hundreds having to stand outside the tent, yet the strictest attention was given, showing that the interest was not confined to the few, but pervaded the whole assembly. And here I am pleased to say that notwithstanding the great ability displayed by Eld. S. upon his side of the question, yet, the audience bearing me witness, a glorious triumph was achieved through the effort of Bro. Hall in favor of the Lord's Sabbath. The truth lost nothing in the conflict, but at the end came forth unscarred, bearing the victor's wreath. Bro. H. in his opening address made the following points, viz.: 1. "The Sabbath was made for man." Mark ii, 27. He showed in the first place man's need of a Sabbath, and then in the most conclusive manner proved that the comprehensive term "man," in the Saviour's declaration must have embraced the whole human family; therefore the Sabbath was made for Christians, and hence binding upon them. 2. The Sabbath was given to the children of Israel as a sign to run throughout their generations. Ex. xxxi, 13. The generations of the children of Israel, the Jews, are not yet become extinct, but are found in every land as a living memorial of God's declarations concerning them; therefore the observance of the Sabbath is still binding on them; but the middle wall of partition being now broken down, that the98Gentiles may become fellow-heirs, etc., therefore Christians cannot be exempt from such observance. 3. The observance of the Sabbath was for a perpetual covenant, based on the immutable fact that the Lord made heaven and earth in six days, and rested on the seventh day. Ex. xxxi, 16, 17. The fact or basis still remaining unchanged and unchangeable, the Sabbath obligation must still continue, and be of binding force upon Christians as well as Jews. 4. God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it--set it apart for religious use--because in it he had rested from all his work which he had made. Gen. ii, 3. God has never taken his blessing from it; therefore the seventh day is still God's hallowed rest-day, or Sabbath; and hence Christians are without authority for neglecting to observe it. 5. The covenant containing the Sabbath is a covenant of ten commandments--no more, no less; and this covenant being perpetual, and commanded to a thousand generations, the Sabbath must also be perpetual, and Christians under obligation to observe it. Bro. H. drove his pins on the foregoing points so tight, that Eld. S. very wisely concluded to let them remain, although he had previously boasted that he could easily draw all the pins Bro. H. could drive on the Sabbath question. Instead therefore of attempting to reply to the solid arguments of Bro. H., he led off in the discussion with nine propositions as the foundation and superstructure of his position on the question under debate. And lest his nine propositions when classified and stated, should, by some rude touch, or unwelcome breath, "vanish into thin air," he sought to stay their sudden flight by cementing them together into one solid piece of masonry, and then giving them a "local habitation and a name." He therefore ventured to draw upon the imagination of his hearers, by assuring them that he was about to erect before them, with said propositions, a huge pyramid, with broad base, of towering hight, and comely proportions. He proceeded with his masonry as follows: Strata No. 1. Why was the law given? "It was added because of transgression." Gal. iii, 19. S. No. 2. How long was the law to continue? "Till the seed should come." Gal. iii, 19. S. No. 3. Christ, the seed (Gal. iii, 16) did come; therefore, S. No. 4. Christ became the end of the law. Rom. x, 4. (So away goes the law! a poor foundation, surely, for such a stately structure!) S. No. 5. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also in the law." Heb. vii, 12. S. No. 6. The change in the law consists in magnifying it. Isa. xlii, 21. It then becomes the law of Christ. (In No. 4 we came to the end of the law, but now we are having it magnified! Query. If a house divided against itself cannot stand, how can this pyramid?) S. No. 7. The law of Christ is the law of liberty. James ii, 12. And we are to fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. vi, 2. S. No. 8. The Sabbath was included in the law that was changed, or magnified, but the spirit of the commandment is retained in the law of Christ, and has its fulfillment in Heb. iv, 3. "For we which have believed do enter into rest." (The magnifying lens used by Eld. S. must be very peculiar indeed, for when he gets the Sabbath magnified, it becomes entirely extinct! But still he acknowledges allegiance to the spirit of the commandment! Doubtless the pathetic words of the poet have made a deep impression on his mind, "Though lost to sight, to memory dear.") S. No. 9. The apostles did not teach the observance of the Sabbath, but gave liberty to regard it the same as any other day. Rom. xiv, 5; Col. ii, 16. Reader, behold the pyramid(!) that was erected as an impregnable barrier against the observance of the Lord's Sabbath! I scarcely need to say that it fell to the ground of its own uncomely proportions; but lest any one should conclude that its tottering form might have braved the storm, let him be assured the well-directed artillery of Bro. H. scattered it to the four winds, that not a vestige remained. Time and space forbid that I should enter more fully into the details of the discussion. Upon the whole, it was very interesting, and I think profitable. The Lord grant that it may be the means of causing some at least to see and embrace the truth. I must not omit to say that the debate was conducted by both parties in a gentlemanly and christian-like manner. Nothing occurred to mar the peace or good will existing between them. Eld. S. is a man of fine talents, and worthy of a better cause than fighting against the Sabbath of the Lord. Somerset, N. Y., Aug. 7, 1861.