Earlier text: MAN NOT IMMORTAL:Meetings at Clarence—Positions Taken, &c.
FOR several weeks the subject of the Sabbath has attracted considerable attention at Clarence, Erie Co. N. Y. The Disciple Preacher, [Eld. Bartlett,] and the Seventh-day Baptist preacher, [Eld. Babcock,] each delivered a discourse on the subject, in the Disciple Meeting-house at that place. The Methodists then had a discourse on the subject from one of their Ministers. Since, Eld. Bartlett has reviewed Eld. Babcock's discourse; and Eld. Babcock has an appointment to review both the discourses of the Methodist minister and Eld. Bartlett. Our brethren at Mill Grove and vicinity were anxious that Bro. J. N. Andrews should speak to the people at Clarence on the Sabbath question; and an appointment was given out for him to preach in the Disciple Meeting-house the 10th, at 2 o'clock P. M. But it was ascertained that Bro. Andrews was too feeble to fill the appointment, and we were requested by Bro. R. F. Cottrell to fill it. This we consented to do, if he would state to the people one week beforehand, that we were to preach instead of Bro. Andrews, that they might not be disappointed. The congregation was not very large from several causes; but those present came to hear. They listened three hours without manifesting any degree of uneasiness. As we were not present to hear former discourses on the subject, it was not our design to notice positions taken by others, but to present the plain, Bible view of the question. We read the words of the great Teacher:—"And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Mark ii, 27.—Positions taken:— 1. The word "man," here used in its unlimited sense, means the entire race—Adam and all his posterity.—This being the case, we may expect to find the record of the institution of the Sabbath at an early date—Read the record in Gen. ii, 2, 3. "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." The record mentions no commandment to Adam to keep the Sabbath; but this circumstance does not prove that he did not keep it. It is a fact (and facts are stubborn things,) that the Sabbath was kept, and its violation rebuked by the God of heaven, before the commandment [Ex. xx] was given. Ex. xvi, contains no commandment to keep the Sabbath, while it does contain a record of the keeping of the Sabbath thirty-two days before the ten commandments were spoken to Israel. If kept thirty-two days before the commandment was spoken, why may it not have been kept 2500 years before? It cannot be supposed that Moses, in giving the brief sketch of the creation, the flood, &c., gives a full account of all of God's instructions to man during 2500 years! Indeed Jude speaks of "Enoch the seventh from Adam," who "prophesied;" yet the record does not mention his prophecy. The Sabbath is a memorial of the true God, the maker of the heavens and the earth, and the fourth commandment the only one of the ten which reveals him. "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." The reason for the institution is as old as the world; and it is the most natural thing in the world, that the institution should run parallel with it. If men had always observed the Sabbath they never would have forgotten their Creator. It is the great bulwark which God erected against Atheism and Idolatry. As a sign, it points to creation, and not to Christ, or to believers' rest in this world or the better one, as some vainly think. "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; [now which way does the sign point?] For, in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed." As a sign, the Sabbath signified that its observers were believers in the true God, the maker of heaven and earth. As a memorial of Jehovah's rest, it is fitting as to its character and in its time. Rest commemorates rest; God rested on the seventh day of the first week, man should have rested on the seventh day of each week since that time. While those who talk of the Sabbath's being a memorial of the departure from Egypt must take the extremely absurd position that the quiet rest of the Holy Sabbath was designed to commemorate the midnight rush of Israel from Egypt!! But here is another difficulty. The departure of Israel was on the fifteenth of Abib, which occurring but once a year, the event of that day was commemorated annually by the Passover and its connected feast of unleavened bread. Men may as well talk of celebrating our national independence on each seventh day, as to assert that the weekly Sabbath celebrated the Exodus. The above stated facts are in beautiful harmony with the testimony of the Lord of the Sabbath—"The Sabbath was made for man"—for the entire race. We have no record that Christ ever intimated any change whatever in regard to the observance of the Sabbath; but on the contrary, he declares that he came not to destroy the law, and till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle should in no wise pass from it. Matt. v, 17, 18. This is a portion of his first sermon, that ever-memorable sermon on the mount. Neither have the apostles left on record the least hint of any change in regard to the Sabbath. And to say that Christ and the apostles establish the first day of the week as the Lord's day, or Christian Sabbath, by their example, savors more of Catholicism than Protestantism. Heaven has never required of mortals any important duty without a plain precept. But to those who talk of the example of Christ and the apostles for Sunday-keeping, we would say, that there is no record that Christ, after his resurrection, appeared to his disciples in the day-time of the first day of the week, or that any of the disciples met for worship in the day-time of that day. See reply to seven reasons for observing the first day of the week, by J. N. A., Advent and Sabbath Tracts, No. 1. In that little Work it is clearly shown that there is neither precept nor example favoring the observance of the first day of the week. After noticing 2 Cor. iii, and Col. ii, 14-16, we stated that God the Father is our law-giver, and Christ our advocate with the law-giver. Says James, "There is one law-giver, [not twelve, nor two,] who is able to save and to destroy." Chap. iv, 12. Says the beloved disciple, "Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John iii, 4. Again, "And if any man sin, [transgress the law of the one law-giver,] we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Chap. ii, 1. But if Christ be our law-giver, then we should understand, that if any man transgress the law of Jesus Christ, we have an advocate with Jesus Christ. But who is he? The Papist can answer, The Pope, while the Protestant has no answer. Said Moses, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken." Deut. xviii, 15. But who believes that the laws taught by Moses originated with himself? No one. Neither did the doctrine taught by our Lord Jesus Christ originate with himself, while "the Father steps back upon the back-ground." Jehovah said of Jesus, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him." Then let us "hear him" on this point. He says: "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." John vii, 16. "I do nothing of myself, but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." Chap. viii, 28. "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak" Chap. xii, 49. "The word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." Chap. xiv, 24. Now read the commission to the eleven. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU." It follows, then, that the entire doctrine of the New Testament came from God the Father, while Christ, like Moses, took the words from the mouth of the great Law-giver, and spoke them to the people. As we were closing our lengthy remarks, we observed quite an aged gentleman making his way up into the stand; and as we sat down he rose up, and commenced a review of our discourse. From his introduction we had reason to expect lengthy remarks. He made several misstatements of our position. A portion of the congregation arose to leave. We then requested them to tarry, for we wished to correct some statements before they left, and stated also to the speaker that we hoped he would be as brief as possible, as we must very soon leave to attend an appointment in another place. But the speaker talked on about a half an hour, when we felt compelled, by a sense of duty to be at our other appointment, to rise and state that we must immediately leave unless the speaker could close his remarks and give us a chance to correct misstatements. We took out our watch and begged for five minutes. But this we could not have, unless we would promise to remain and hear on the other side. At this point, a gentleman in the front seat spoke something as follows: "Bro. Brown, perhaps you had better give way." "Well," was the reply, and at once he dismissed the congregation with a short prayer!! This was something new. We stated to the congregation that, perhaps we had not fully learned the customs of the people in Western N. Y., being a New England man, and that we had never seen a case like it, and had never met with such treatment before. We thanked the kind people of Clarence who had so patiently listened to our lengthy remarks, and hastened to our next appointment. We afterwards learned that this "Bro. Brown," was a Disciple preacher. Our appointment was to preach on the Sabbath question, therefore we spoke our views without mentioning the names or the known views of others. And certainly, under those circumstances, the course pursued by this minister, could not be justified by any enlightened community. New and Important Works.
By Editor
WE consider the Pamphlet entitled, "The Law of God: Testimony of Both Testaments" by J. H. WAGGONER of Wisconsin, noticed in our list of Publications, a most thorough and triumphant refutation of the no-law, no-Sabbath system. This is one of our most important works. Bro. D. P. HALL of Wisconsin is preparing an excellent work on the Immortality question. Some of his articles have appeared in the REVIEW, which speak for themselves. The work will probably be completed in a few weeks. Bro. J. M. STEPHENSON of Wisconsin is preparing a work on the Atonement. From what we have seen of the manuscript, we think its value cannot be estimated, and that it will meet the wants of the cause on that subject. It is a matter of grateful thanksgiving to God that he has raised up men in Wisconsin to faithfully and ably defend the truth. These brethren have given themselves entirely to the work. But in a nearly new field, in a new country, there are many hardships and deprivations, especially in presenting unpopular45Bible truth, of which those in other portions of the field are ignorant. Many of the friends of the cause in the West are poor; others are in debt, and but very few have yet learned to sacrifice for the cause of truth. These brethren and others we might mention, are intending to enter new places this Fall, and the coming Winter and Spring, where they cannot expect to receive for their labors but a small part of what will be required for their expenses and the support of their families. We would say to our readers in Wisconsin, Let these servants of the Lord share your liberalities. See that they have a comfortable support, that they may go out free to work for God. We are personally acquainted with these dear brethren, and know that they are "the poor of this world." We have concluded to send to Brn. Waggoner, Hall and Stephenson, one hundred dollars worth of their own books, when all are completed, to be divided among them, as a small remuneration for preparing them for the press; and call on the friends of the cause to send us their donations, as the Lord hath prospered them, to that amount. Brethren, here is a good opportunity to use some of your means to the glory of God. "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase." You who have given to the cause of missions, &c., here have a chance to do, which will tell to the glory of God. If more than the small sum named shall be received, it shall be expended for publications for preaching brethren in Wisconsin, at the rate of 2000 pages for $1. The above statements are made without the least solicitation or hint from the brethren in Wisconsin. Communication from Bro. Hart.
By Josiah Hart
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—In view of the field of labor that is opening before us, we feel deeply the necessity of faithful laborers in the field, such as will feel the weight of the cause, and be willing to sacrifice for the truth's sake. Since the last meeting that we held, which was in Plattsburg, there seems to be the greatest inquiry for the truth that has ever been manifested. The leading members of the Wesleyan church, after hearing at the tent, and then attending an appointment by their request at the school-house, were not satisfied, but said that if we would stay one day more we should have the meeting-house; and we were constrained to stop. Why all this change? I think every christian will answer that it is because the Spirit of God is operating upon the hearts of the people, and the truth is progressing. Now is the time for us to labor, brethren and sisters, in this cause. I think we shall be able to get the truth before more minds this season (at least in Vermont) than all the time before since the third angel's message commenced; a class of minds, too, to whom we have not before had access; a class who have long looked upon us as being very inconsistent in our views, but who are now beginning to see that we have a portion, at least of the truth of God; a class that can sit for hours and listen to those truths which are so dear to us: their hearts are made to feel by the power of truth. In view of the call that is made to know something about this truth, and in view of the fact that the people have an ear to hear, and in many places meeting-houses are open to us, what is to be done? They cannot hear without a preacher. Again the answer comes back, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest," that shall be qualified for the work, and feel the weight of the cause and the worth of souls; who will realize that the last note of warning will soon be past and then it will be too late to labor: the harvest will then be ended. And while I have seen the enemy at work in various ways to hinder the progress of truth and at the same time have seen some with a disposition to stand still, while he is carrying on his work of detention, I have felt that we were in extreme danger of being guilty of the blood of souls. Are these facts, brethren, or is it my imagination while I look at these things? I think these are facts; and that there is a disposition on the part of many of us to take our ease. O brethren, may that "wo" never be pronounced upon us, which is pronounced upon those who are at ease in Zion! There is something that we can all do in this great work. Some may think that when the latter rain is poured out, it will do a great work for them. I would ask these if ever they obtained a blessing, unless it was down low at the feet of Jesus. I think that there has been a disposition on our part to lay off a part of the armor, that we are exhorted to put on. The enemy is encamped all about us. If there ever was a time when it was necessary to have on the whole armor, it is now. Let us gird on the truth that it may have its sanctifying effect on our lives. The truth must be carried out in all our doings, in order for us to be like a city set on an hill. I am satisfied that we can do much by our works. Let us then take hold of these matters, putting works and faith together, which will make both stronger, and then move forward in the great work that is before us. Plattsburg, Sept., 6th, 1854. SIXTEENTH OF EXODUS.
By R. F. Cottrell
THIS chapter seems to be very much in the way of our no-Sabbath friends, and it seems very unfortunate for them that it is in the Bible. They reject the Sabbath as instituted in Gen. ii, because no command to keep it is there given. One takes his stand at Mt. Sinai, and says, Here the Jewish Sabbath was instituted; but the sixteenth of Exodus, which proves that the Sabbath was known and observed, at least a month before Israel came to Sinai, stares him in the face. The Sabbath is here acknowledged as a part of the law of God. Another beholding the calamity of his brother, and observing the rock on which he split, takes his position in the wilderness of Sin, congratulating himself on the strength of this position; for, says he, the Sabbath is nowhere commanded in the record, till you come to the sixteenth of Exodus. Here he locates the making of the Jewish Sabbath; but what is his astonishment, when he finds that the Sabbath is not commanded here; so that, if a commandment is necessary in order to finish the institution, we must come to Sinai for it. Our Saviour said, "The Sabbath was made for man." We take the ground, that it was made at the time when God rested on the seventh day, and then blessed and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested. He did not bless and sanctify the day for himself to rest upon; but after he had rested, he blessed and sanctified it, as we think for man; and his reason for this was, that he had rested upon it. At that time the Sabbath was made for man. No, says the objector, the Sabbath was made for the Jews in the wilderness of Sin. It was not finished at the creation, because it was not then commanded. We understand him, then, that Jehovah commenced the work of making a Sabbath for the human family, at the creation, to commemorate that event; that after getting it about two-thirds, or three-quarters done, he gave up his design, and laid it aside, where it lay unfinished for 2500 years; that when he had brought Israel out of Egypt as far as the wilderness of Sin, it came into his mind to give them a Jewish Sabbath, to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt; so he takes up that old, unfinished Sabbath, and finishes it off for Jewish use, in these words: "To-morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord." This accounts for the reason given for the institution in the fourth (Jewish) commandment: "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." When we hear men exclaiming, with the greatest emphasis, that we hear nothing of the Sabbath from the account of the creation down to the days of Moses, a period of 2500 years, we feel like informing them that Moses wrote the first of Genesis, as well as the last of Exodus. And that the history of the creation was probably written after the giving of the law at Sinai. How much better to look at things in their natural order. We find the Sabbath existing, and the Israelites having a knowledge of it in the wilderness of Sin. A month after this the law is given at Sinai, and the Lord gives a reason for the Sabbath as old as the creation. Then Moses, being instructed by Jehovah, gives a brief history of the world, from the creation down to his own day, and in doing this, states the fact, that God rested on the seventh day, and then blessed and sanctified it. There is no necessity for him to go back there, and command Adam to keep it. Israel were keeping it before they came to Sinai, where the first commandment on record for keeping it was given; and the inspired testimony of Moses assures them that it was not merely a human tradition, but that it was instituted by God himself at the beginning. The truth of God will bear investigation, and the more we examine it the brighter it shines. DUTY OF PARENTS TO THEIR CHILDREN.
By Ellen G. White
ONE of the signs of the "last days" is the disobedience of children to their parents. 2 Tim. iii, 2. And do parents realize their responsibility? Many seem to lose sight of the watch-care they should ever have over their children, and suffer them to indulge in evil passions, and to disobey them. They take but little notice of them until their own feelings are raised, and then punish them in anger. Many parents will have to render an awful account at last for their neglect of their children. They have fostered and cherished their evil tempers by bending to their wishes and will, when the wishes and will of the children should bend to them. They have brought God's frown upon them and their children by these things. Parents, have you forgotten that which is written in the Holy Word: "He that spareth the rod hateth his son." Children are left to come up instead of being trained up. The poor little children are thought not to know or understand a correction at ten or twelve months old, and they begin to show stubbornness very young. Parents suffer them to indulge in evil tempers and passions without subduing or correcting them, and by so doing they cherish and nourish these evil passions until they grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength. The house of God is often desecrated, and the Sabbath violated by Sabbath-believers' children. In some cases they are even allowed to run about the house, play, talk and manifest their evil tempers in the very meetings where the saints should worship God in the beauty of holiness. And the place that should be holy, and where a holy stillness should reign, and where there should be perfect order, neatness and humility, is made to be a perfect Babylon, "confusion." This is enough to bring God's displeasure, and shut his presence from our assemblies. His wrath is kindled for these things, and he will not while these things exist, go out with Israel to battle against their enemies. The enemies of our faith will be suffered to triumph on account of God's displeasure. Parents stand in the place of God to their children and they will have to render an account, whether they have been faithful to the little few committed to their trust. Parents, some of you are rearing children to be cut down by the destroying angel, unless you speedily change your course, and be faithful to them. God cannot cover iniquity, even in children. He cannot love unruly children who manifest passion, and he cannot save them in the time of trouble. Will you suffer your children to be lost through your neglect? Unfaithful parents, their blood will be upon you, and is not your salvation doubtful with the blood of your children upon you? Children that might have been saved had you filled your place, and done your duty as faithful parents should.46God says: "I know Abraham, that he will command his household after him," and God gave him the honor of being the father of the faithful. Parents, it is your duty to have your children in perfect subjection, having all their passions and evil tempers subdued. And if children are taken to meeting, they should be made to know, and understand where they are. That they are not at home, but where God meets with his people. And they should be kept quiet and free from all play, and God will turn his face toward you, to meet with you and bless you. If order is observed in the assemblies of the saints, the truth will have better effect upon all that hear it. A solemnity which is so much needed will be encouraged, and there will be power in the truth to stir up the depths of the soul and a death-like stupor will not hang upon those who hear. Believers and unbelievers will be affected. It has seemed evident that in some places the Ark of God was removed from the church, for the holy commandments have been violated and the strength of Israel has been weakened. Parents, correct your children. Commence while they are young, when impressions can be more easily made, and their evil tempers subdued before they grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength. You should correct your children in love. Do not let them have their own way until you get angry, and then punish them. Such correction only helps on the evil, instead of remedying it. After you have done your duty faithfully to your children, then carry them to God and ask him to help you. Tell him that you have done your part, and then in faith ask God to do his part, that which you cannot do. Ask him to temper their dispositions, to make them mild and gentle by his Holy Spirit. He will hear you pray. He will love to answer your prayers. Through his Word he has enjoined it upon you to correct your children, to "spare not for their crying," and his Word is to be heeded in these things. It certainly must bring God's displeasure upon parents when they leave him to do what he has left, and commanded them to do. God corrects us when we disobey, and go astray from him; and parents are bound by the word of God to correct their children when they disobey them, and show evil temper. Check the very first manifestation of passion. Break the will, (but do it with feelings of tenderness, and with discretion;) and your children will be far happier for it, and you will be happier. Your effort will be remembered of God, and he that is so particular as to observe the falling of the sparrow; he that noticed and commended Abraham's faithfulness, will not pass by your efforts. He that never slumbers nor sleeps will be ready to aid you with his Spirit and grace, and will reward your feeble efforts. Parents, above every thing, take care of your children upon the Sabbath. Do not suffer them to violate God's holy day by playing in the house or out of doors. You may just as well break the Sabbath yourselves as to let your children do it, and when you suffer your children to wander about, and suffer them to play upon the Sabbath, God looks upon you as Sabbath-breakers. Your children, that are under your control, should be made to mind you. Your word should be their law. Will not parents wake up to their duty before it shall be too late, and take hold of the work in earnest, redeem the time, and make unsparing efforts to save their children? Children are the lawful prey of the enemy, because they are not subjects of grace, have not experienced the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, and the evil angels have access to these children; and some parents are careless and suffer them to work with but little restraint. Parents have a great work to do in this matter, by correcting and subduing their children and then by bringing them to God and claiming his blessing upon them. By the faithful and untiring efforts of the parents, and the blessing and grace entreated of God upon the children, the power of the evil angels will be broken, a sanctifying influence is shed upon the children, and the powers of darkness must give back. When the destroying angel was to pass through Egypt, to destroy the first-born of man and beast, Israel was commanded to gather their children and families into their houses with them, and then mark their door-posts with blood, that the destroying angel might pass by their dwellings, and if they failed to go through with this process, there was no difference made between them and the Egyptians. The destroying angel is soon to go forth again, not to destroy the first-born alone, but "to slay utterly old and young, both men, women and little children" who have not the mark. Parents, if you wish to save your children, separate them from the world, keep them from the company of wicked children; for if you suffer them to go with wicked children, you cannot prevent them from partaking of their wickedness and being corrupted. It is your solemn duty to watch over your children, to choose the society at all times for them. Learn your children to obey you, then can they more easily obey the commandments of God, and yield to his requirements. Don't let us neglect to pray with, and for our children. He that said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not," will listen to our prayers for them, and the seal, or mark, of believing parents will cover their children, if they are trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. E. G. WHITE.