Don't Forget by R. F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 17, 1863

Don't Forget.

By R. F. Cottrell

THERE are some points concerning the law of God, which I find it very difficult for some of my friends to remember. Their mind and imagination are so filled up with certain detached ideas, such as, ‐end of the law,‐ ‐not under the law, but under grace,‐ ‐the law was our schoolmaster,‐ ‐delivered from . . . . . the law,‐ ‐let no man judge you,‐ ‐let every one be fully persuaded in his own mind,‐ ‐all the law is fulfilled in one word,‐ ‐there is no law,‐ and the like, all in a state of chaotic confusion, that there seems to be no room for anything else. If they can be persuaded to remember and reflect upon the following points, it will relieve them of their law-abolishing malady, and restore them to sanity of mind.

1. During the Jewish age the ten commandments were placed in the ark of the covenant, while the ceremonial law required that blood should be offered before the ark in view of the fact that they were transgressors of the law contained in the ark.

2. There was the real law of God in the ark, which showed them their sins, and demanded a real atonement; but the offering of the blood of beasts was no real atonement—it could not take away sin—and hence could only shadow forth the facts that Christ was to shed his blood, and make a real atonement for the transgressions of that very and veritable law contained in the ark.

3. There can be no doubt that this is the law which the Saviour came not to destroy or subvert, and of which he declared that one jot or tittle of it should not pass away till heaven and earth pass. Matt. v, 17-19.

4. It is this law of which Paul speaks in his letter to the Romans. Chap. iii, 19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Verse 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law. Chap. vii, 7. What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

5. This is the royal law of liberty which James affirms that his brethren would do well to fulfill; the transgression of which in one point or precept is sin; and by which his brethren are to be judged. Chap. ii, 8-13.

6. The great original of this law is in the ‐true tabernacle‐ in heaven, while that in the ‐worldly sanctuary‐ was a true copy of the original, certified by Jehovah himself, in his own hand-writing.

7. The original law remains in its place, beneath the throne of God's mercy, as late as the sounding of the seventh angel, of whom it is asserted, that in the days of his voice, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished. Rev. x, 7. ‐And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.‐ Chap. xi, 15-19.

8. It is the Sabbath of this law that was instituted in Eden, before man fell, and which will be observed by ‐all flesh‐ in Paradise restored. Gen. ii, 2, 3; Isa. lxvi, 22, 23.

If my friends will carefully consider these points, and be half as desirous to claim the blessings of the Sabbath, as they are to get rid of its obligation, it will work a perfect revolution in their way of thinking, and restore them to soundness of mind.

R. F. COTTRELL.