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Review and Herald, Vol. 2, No. 12.

Crozier’s Sabbath Arguments Reviewed
Earlier text: Crozier’s Sabbath Arguments Reviewed
4. “Akin to the above is the assertions of the same persons, that observing the first day of the week as a Sabbath, is having the Mark of the Beast and exposes to the wrath of God” denounced by the third angel in Rev. xiv, 9—11.—“It is not a thing impossible that the Mark of the Beast may have some connection with the very institution for which C. puts forth all the plea that he is able. It is well remarked by J. B. Cook that “Every enactment relative to the religious observance of the first day, originated with the Pope and Potentates of Rome, and those who in this matter sympathize with them.”—It is true that the Papal power was to “think to CHANGE times and laws.” Dan. vii, 25. It is true that the Mark of the Beast stands in opposition to, or in contrast with, the commandments of God. Rev. xiv, 9—12. It is also true that when the commandments of God are now presented, this Papal institution, now universally observed in the place of the fourth commandment, is arrayed against them with all the energy that can be imparted to it. It is evident also from Rev. xii, 17, that the Dragon shall yet make war on those who shall be found keeping the commandments of God. It is further evident that the Two-horned Beast is yet to require on pain of death, that men worship the Image of the first Beast, and also that they receive his Mark. But let the mark of the Beast refer to what it may, what has C. to say against keeping “the commandments of God,” brought to view in the verse next to that which speaks of the Mark of the Beast? Rev. xiv, 9—12. And on which side would he stand, should the Dragon now make war on the commandment keepers?—This subject may be noticed at length hereafter. For a refutation of the view that the “Three Angels of” Rev. xiv, 1—13 refer to the future age, See “Review and Herald,” Vol. II. No. 8.
5. C. next informs his readers that there is no evidence that man needs a day of rest. “Jesus did indeed say, The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath, but Sabbatarians reverse this principle, by asserting that man was made expressly for the Sabbath—originally constituted for keeping it.”—The Editor of the “Harbinger,” who recommends C.’s article as “plain Bible testimony,” directly contradicts the view of C. Hear him: “He [poor fellow man] has needed rest from his hard labors and God in his good pleasure, in giving his law, the law of Moses to his chosen people, provided a day of rest for them, and through them to all mankind who would submit to law.”—Harbinger for Nov. 1, 1851.—In this obscure corner C. finds a space to use up the testimony of our Lord, relative to God’s design in making the Sabbath. Why did he not present this divine answer, when he discussed the question “For whom was the Sabbath instituted?” And why should he misrepresent us, who believe that the Sabbath was designed for, and adapted to man’s temporal and Eternal well being, by saying that we believe “that man was made expressly for the Sabbath?” Nay, why does he impeach the Highest Wisdom, by saying that He made something for man, that he did not need!
In order to present to the reader the commentary of C. we quote Matt. xxiv, 20, “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter neither on the Sabbath-day.” Hear him expound it:
“6. The reference to the Sabbath in Matt. xxiv, 20, only shows that the Jews who rejected Christ, would be keeping the Sabbath at the destruction of Jerusalem, and would, in consequence, add to the dangers of the disciples flight, by punishing them (perhaps with death) for fleeing on that day.”
We are indebted to him, for a suitable commentary on his own remarks. Mark now appropriate it is:
“But how does he know this: there is nothing of the kind said. This is a bare inference, without a shadow of foundation in positive testimony: hence it is on his part an arrogant assumption!”
7. C. next asserts that the duty of keeping the fourth commandment is only inferred from the New Testament.—We have presented the direct testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, also that of the apostles Paul, James and John, relative to the perpetuity and immutability of the law of God, and though he has nowhere attempted to refute these testimonies, they amount in his estimation to nothing but an inference. But his inference for Sunday which will not stand the test of a single moment’s investigation, he brings forward with which to establish a kind of first-day institution out of apostolic preference!
“O reason, thou art fled to brutish beasts!”
8. God’s act of resting upon the seventh day and blessing and sanctifying it is an ‘inference which is not sufficient to establish a truth or a religious duty,’ but an inference drawn from two instances in which the first day is mentioned, (both of which contain evidence the reverse of that desired,) is sufficient to establish apostolic preference for the first day instead of Jehovah’s Sabbath!—“The days of visitation are come; the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.” Hos. ix, 7.
It is with feelings of deep sorrow, and painful regret, that we have witnessed this last attempt to make void the law of God, Ps. cxix, 126, 136; Rom. iii, 31. We weep, not merely that THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN AND THE WEAPONS OF WAR HAVE PERISHED, (2 Sam. i, 27,) but rather that they have joined the Philistines, the enemies of the ark of God. Would to God that C., instead of counting “the great things” of God’s law “a strange thing,” had prayed “open thou mine eyes that I may see wondrous things out of thy law,” then might he have been able to say with evangelical David, “O how love I thy law:” or with the great Apostle to the Gentiles, “I delight in the law of God.” Alas that that other law of sin that is in the members, should lead C. to war in this desperate manner against the law of God. The report of that Bible Class evinces, as indeed every thing connected with the article plainly shows, that instead of canvassing the evidences on which Jehovah’s law and Sabbath rest, every thing was said against them that could well be brought to bear. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.”
With a few suggestions, we submit the whole subject:
  1. The blood of Jesus was shed for our transgressions of the moral law. Is it not very remarkable, then, that he himself was its transgressor? 1 John iii, 4, 5; Isa. liii, 5, 6, 11; Heb. ix, 28; 1 Pet. ii, 22—24.
  2. The doctrine of the atonement establishes the moral law. The law of shadows that only, typified the death of the Lamb of God, came to its end—the substance at his death. Col. ii, 14—17. The royal law from the King Eternal, which condemned the whole world and showed them to be guilty before God, was thus magnified and made honorable by the death of God’s only Son. Through his blood pardon is offered to fallen guilty man. But when mercy shall have given place to justice, the claims of the holy law will be vindicated. Would it not be very remarkable, should it then be found that the blood of Christ had blotted out the moral law. Rom. iii.
  3. The doctrine of the destruction of the wicked, rests upon the perpetuity of the law of God. The wages of sin is death. Rom. vi. Sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John iii; Rom. iv, 15. But the law is abolished! How unreasonable is this last idea, when we consider that the men who hold to it, talk much of the “penalty of the law” that will surely overtake the wicked. For a thorough elucidation of the last two points, viz: the fact that the doctrine of the atonement ESTABLISHES the moral law, and the fact that the doctrine of the destruction of the wicked RESTS UPON the perpetuity of the law, the reader is cited to Mr. Dobney’s great work on “Future Punishment” Part 1. We only echo the voice of the “Harbinger” respecting it, when we say it is unanswerable.”
  4. If the death of Christ destroys the moral law then the human family are delivered from its fearful sentence, whether they repent or not. This makes the atonement unconditional; hence it is the real foundation of Universalism, 1 Cor. xv, 3; Matt. xx, 28; John iii, 16.
  5. The doctrine that temporal [instead of the second] death is the ultimate penalty of God’s law, is the real foundation of the non-resurrection of the wicked. For after the penalty of the law has been inflicted, those who have suffered it, cannot be raised to suffer something else.
  6. Is it not very remarkable that while the “Harbinger” is breaking the fourth commandment and teaching men so, it should be continually repeating the sentence “Death is the penalty of the law.”—Would it not be better to unite with those who are trying to do and teach the commandments, and to talk of entering into life?
  7. The Lord preserveth all them that love him; (this is the love of God that we keep his commandments;) but all the wicked (sin is the transgression of the law) will be destroyed. Ps. cxlv, 20. And it is a fact of thrilling importance, that, when the commandment keepers enter into life, the wicked shall be left without to be consumed of the second death. Rev. xxii, 14, 15; xx, 11—15.
  8. The plain testimony of the New Testament, relative to the perpetuity of God’s law was not noticed by C., neither is it often noticed by its opponents. They “find it very difficult to make any use” of it.
  9. Many have noticed the fulfillment of the first sign recorded by Peter, in his second epistle, chap. iii. But is there not one occurrence recorded in the concluding part of the chapter, that furnishes a striking sign of the times in which we live? I refer to the effort now made by many to WREST THE WORDS OF PAUL “to their own destruction.”
Instead of saying to those “who are troubled” respecting their disobedience to the fourth commandment, “continue in sin (sin is the transgression of the law”) that grace may abound,” we do say “to you who are troubled rest with us” upon God’s Holy Sabbath, and you will find how “blessed” a thing it is to obey God. Amen.
“Momentous day! its first observer He, The high and lofty One, whose fearful name Gleams as a signet on its holy brow. Alone ordained and sanctified by Him, And with his blessing blest forever more. When from the sacred mount, Whose cloudy top and trembling base proclaimed The awful grandeur of its Guest sublime, In thunder tones went forth the “Royal law,” God’s will to man, made known in ten commands; On that dread morn, while to its centre shook The steadfast earth, and Israel in dismay Turned from the fearful sight, nor could endure The voice of Him that spake; the great decree Unchangeable was passed on all below. “Six days may work be done, but on the seventh, Which is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, Thou and all thine shall rest; for in six days The Lord made heaven and earth and all therein, And rested on the seventh and hallowed it.” ‘Based on this grand foundation, stands secure The Sabbath of the LORD. And who art thou, That rashly dream’st to pluck this fabric down; And on its ruins to erect thine own, Thy blest, thy sanctified! short sighted man! Canst thou command unnumbered worlds from naught? Or canst thou thunder with a voice like Him? Then mayest thou think to change the law divine. Thy weakness know, and know that God is strong, And jealous of his glory; and who dares With impious hand to touch his high renown, Shall His displeasure prove, and taste his ire. Blest all-immortal day! Ah it shall stand; Unmoved amid the strife of mortal tongues— Unmoved amid the ruins of the world; And while Eternity his mighty years Shall roll unnumbered o’er the earth made new, Effulgent shine in glory’s noontide ray, By nations who are saved, observed for aye.”
Jackson, (Mich.), Jan. 1st, 1852.

OUR TOUR WEST.

By Editor

In our last we gave a brief sketch of our recent tour up to January 23d. We were then at Bath, (N. Y.), Bro. Baker with us. Our meeting there which commenced the evening of the 23d, was well attended and interesting. Several who had very recently received the "present truth" were much strengthened and encouraged. Much interest was felt for the children. The two sons of Bro. and Sr. Raymond of Wheeler were under such deep conviction, on their way home First-day P. M., that they requested their parents to return with them to the meeting. So they returned, and we had a powerful season of prayer for them before the evening meeting commenced. We have since learned that a good work is going on with the children there.
We formed a happy acquaintance with Bro. and Sr. Platt who kindly entertained us much of the time we were in Bath. We were delighted with the order, and good behaviour of their dear children. We do not design to flatter; but as an orderly family, where children are trained as they should be, is so seldom found, we cannot refrain from mentioning this case. We hope to hear that the entire household is devoted to God, observing all his commandments.
We had a most interesting season at the house of Bro. Lebeus Drew of Pultney. Much interest was felt for the unconverted children of our dear Bro. and Sr. Drew, and we trust that they will seek the Lord with all the heart.
Jan. 31st, and Feb. 1st we spent with the brethren in the vicinity of Pitcher, Bro. Baker went to Rochester. We were happily disappointed in finding so large a company of Sabbath-keepers in that vicinity. God has done much for his dear people there within a few months. We hope they will seek earnestly to be fully consecrated to God and his cause, and to be in possession of living, active faith.
Monday night, Feb. 2d, we stopped with Bro. E. D. Cook, of Manlius. We found Bro. and Sr. Cook, wholehearted in the present truth, and had a very interesting interview with them. They wish the brethren to call on them more frequently. Tuesday morning, after having a sweet,weeping season of prayer with them and their children, we left for Oswego. There the brethren are rising, and the Lord is adding to their numbers. We trust they will dwell more on the glories of the kingdom for the future, and less on petty trials. Those who have recently embraced the Sabbath in that city are very decided. We became very much attached to them.
Feb. 7th and 8th we were with the brethren in the vicinity of Lorain. Here the Lord has raised up quite a large company of Sabbath-keepers within a few months, many of whom had but little or no experience in the advent movement. They seem decided, and were much comforted as we presented the reasons of our faith and hope. We hope to be able to visit them again in a few months, and tarry longer with them.
On our way home we called to see Sisters Cady and Brissee of Stratford, formerly of New Bedford, (Mass.), who cherish the same blessed hope of soon seeing Jesus, and love the Sabbath of the Lord. Bro. Brissee kindly entertained us. We hope that he will soon join his companion in observing the fourth commandment.
We reached home the 13th, and found our friends in good health and spirits. Sister Smith, who has had the care of the paper in our absence, seems happy with her charge.—Our health is improved by traveling. We are all very happy to see the cause of truth rapidly advancing. It must be cheering to all the friends of the third angel's message to learn that the cause is onward, and that numbers are daily entering the ranks of those who observe the Lord's Sabbath. This is so, praise the name of the Lord, and our poor heart is exceeding joyful to see the truth triumph.

Call at the Harbinger Office.

By Editor

We see by the "Harbinger" of Jan. 31st, that the editor has noticed our recent call at his office. Our object in going to the office was to obtain some of his books, also to obtain those names of his free list that he has recently dropped, and not for controversy. We fail to see anything of the noble spirit of the Christian that seeks fair investigation, in the remarks of M., but rather a disposition to oppose the truth and misrepresent those who advocate it. We are sorry to be compelled to thus speak; but we will let his remarks show the spirit of the man. He says:
"James White, a prominent leader among those of the Shut-Door and Seventh day Sabbath theory, and editor of their paper, recently called on us—During our friendly conversation he stated, as near as we can recollect, that he knew that the seventh day was the Sabbath, binding on christians to keep. We told him that we knew from the plain word of the Lord that he was in error in this respect. But we would yield the point, and become a convert to his views on the Sabbath if he would give one passage of scripture, without comment, inference or assumption, that plainly and unequivocally proves that it is the duty of christians to keep the seventh day as the Sabbath. He could give no such proof for none exists in the Bible. Hence the seventh day Sabbath is not binding on christians. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of the Lord. The word of the Lord furnishes no evidence that the seventh day Sabbath is binding on christians; hence no one can have real faith in it. If Mr. White had any Bible evidence to sustain his theory, why did he not present it? echo answers, Why?"
"Christians, beware how you listen to the vain, metaphysical and bewildering reasonings of these Shut-Door sabbatarians. No such ramblings as they present are needed to sustain a good cause.—The plain word of the Lord is always at hand to defend the truth. Remember this, and you will not be caught in any of the snares of these misguided ones. 'Let no man deceive you.'"
Note 1. What does M. understand by the shut door theory? If he means what is ignorantly called the "door of mercy," we reply that we know of no such door. The Bible mentions no such door. The parable of the ten virgins [Matt. xxv] mentions a shut door, but that shut door was literal, in the eastern marriage. It however represents an important event with which the church is connected, that was to occur prior to our Lord's return from the wedding. That event shuts out none of the honest children of God, neither those who have not wickedly rejected the light of truth, and the influence of the Holy Spirit.
It is declared by some that Jesus is still on the mercy seat. And this expression is often used in preaching, praying and singing. But because we teach that Jesus now stands before the mercy seat in the most holy place of the Heavenly Sanctuary, we are represented as being one of the leaders of the shut door theory. We say that Jesus is not on the mercy seat. He never was there, and never will be there. The place for the mercy seat is over the Ark of the covenant, within the second veil, in the holiest of all. Over the mercy seat is the cherubim of glory. They overshadow, or coverthe mercy seat. No place for the priest on the mercy seat.
We teach that Jesus our Great High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary, has fulfilled the following texts:
"And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." Isa. xxii, 22. "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth. I know thy works; behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Rev. iii, 7, 8.
This OPEN DOOR we teach, and invite those who have an ear to hear, to come to it and find salvation through Jesus Christ. There is an exceeding glory in the view that Jesus has OPENED THE DOOR into the holiest of all, or has passed within the second veil, and now stands before the Ark containing the ten commandments. "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament." Rev. xi, 19. If it be said that we are of the OPEN DOOR and seventh day Sabbath theory, we shall not object; for this is our faith.
Will those who are forward to speak evil of those things that they understand not, give an exposition of Isa. xxii, 22; Rev. iii, 7, 8?
Note 2. We are here represented as first introducing the Sabbath question, and asserting that we "knew" that our views were right. This was not so. We asked M. if he would let us have those names of his free list that he had dropped, and stated that we had offered to send the "Review and Herald," to those poor persons free, and if they were not able to pay the postage we would pay it for them. This he was not willing to do. He asked us if we would let him have our list. We stated that we should first wish to know his object in obtaining our list. We also stated that if we were in his place we could not object.
Mark this: We did not ask M. for the list that he uses, but merely those names he had dropped. The names of the poor of the flock, that he withheld the "Harbinger" from. He then stated that he knew that we were wrong relative to the Sabbath. We replied that there was then no room for controversy, as the matter was settled on his part; and that we might say that we knew that we were right.—This we had better not have said, as it gave a chance for misrepresentation; but our object was to show that assertions were not proof.
We were then requested to open the Bible and read one text where the Christian church was commanded to keep the seventh day. We then asked M. if he did not remember when he taught the coming of the Lord in 1843 that scoffers of every grade required him to read from the Bible that the Lord was coming in 1843. To this M. replied, "AND THEY REQUIRED IT JUSTLY TOO."
At this admission of M. we were astonished. If scoffers justly required M. to read from the Bible that the Lord was coming in 1843, before they would believe, then he unjustly urged them to believe on the evidence then presented. Therefore, according to this admission, they were the just, the wise that understood, while M. was with the unjust, or those that did not understand, but were doing wickedly!! See Dan. xii. This admission not only destroys the advent movement, and places its proclaimers in a sad position, but if this principle were carried out, it would render every prophetic period in God's word entirely useless. Would it not also charge God with injustice and folly in giving the prophetic periods in the manner that he has?
We then stated that our position on the Sabbath did not require that we should read from the New Testament the commandment to observe the Sabbath. That the Bible mentioned but one weekly Sabbath and that Christians were certainly bound to observe it unless it could be shown that it was abolished.
Here let it be distinctly understood that God has given but one weekly Sabbath, and has enforced it by dreadful penalties. Both Testaments recognize the seventh day as the Sabbath. Therefore our position does not require that the fourth commandment should be repeated in the New Testament. It is enough for Christians to know that the commandment is given in God's word.
Brethren, let the "laboring oar" be placed where it belongs, in the hand of those who reject the Sabbath. The commandment to keep the seventh day is given in the most plain and positive terms, and when our opponents will produce as plain and positive testimony for its abolition as is employed in the fourth commandment, then, and not till then, will we yield our position.
The fact that the commandments of God are taught and enforced in the New Testament is sufficient evidence for the honest Christian, that wishes to believe the whole truth that it is a Christian duty to observe the fourth. Unbelief can always find a handle to take hold of when it wishes one. Those who wish to doubt may find a wide field to doubt, and a broad road to death; while those who wish to believe the truth, as plainly revealed, can find abundant reason to believe.

The Work of Grace.

The present work of grace that is now progressing among those who observe the Sabbath according to the commandment is no small evidence that we have the truth. We believe that it is the design of Heaven that the Sabbath should be especially proclaimed now, in the time of the patience of the saints; and God is setting his seal to this work.
Hundreds can testify that the message of the third angel has been the means of reclaiming them from a lukewarm backslidden state. In many families, where the family altar had been broken down, and no morning and evening prayers had been heard for some years, now the whole family join in the worship of God. Where the parents embrace the Sabbath, the children generally seek the Lord. Within the last two years we have baptized quite a number of the children of believing parents.
It is worthy of notice that the Ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and he and all his house was blest of God. See 2 Samuel vi, 11. When the parents observe the fourth commandment, with the other nine, it seems like taking the Ark of the Lord into their houses, and the blessing of God is sure to follow.
There are some with us who formerly run into the deceptive fogg of spiritualism, and gave up the literal Jesus, and made his glorious appearing only spiritual. It is evident that they never would have been delivered from that snare of the devil, had they not heard our views of present truth. Nothing can be so well calculated to dispel the mischievous mists of spiritualism, as the clear, literal view of the Heavenly Sanctuary.
Many of the dear Advent brethren have felt much like the followers of Jesus who said, "they have taken away the Lord," "and we know not where they have laid him." But the present truth has found him, to the joy of their hearts. We have witnessed the flowing tears of some such, as the literal Sanctuary in heaven has been pointed out, and the literal Jesus shown to be standing before the mercy-seat (that is over the Ark of the ten commandments) still pleading his blood for the errors of his people. And we have heard them express great joy that they had found Jesus. In a number of such cases where prayer had been nearly or entirely dispensed with for four or five years, now the family altar is erected and the whole family join in vocal prayer. A man must have a heart hard like adamant, and as cold as the rocks in the bottom of the ocean, not to be affected by such a work of divine grace, or that can call it falling from grace.
This blessed cause is destined to triumph gloriously. All the opposition of those who oppose will only help in its advancement. If the people of God are humble and obedient, God will work for them mightily.

Fallen from Grace.

By Editor

It is common for the opposers of the Lord's Sabbath to represent those who observe the fourth commandment as fallen from grace and Gal. v, 4 is sometimes quoted as proof. “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace.” But does the Apostle refer to the commandments of God, or either of them, in this text? We answer, he does not. The first three verses of this chapter clearly show what the Apostle's subject was. We will quote them.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be CIRCUMCISED, Christ shall profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man that is CIRCUMCISED, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”
The subject introduced is circumcision. “The ‘yoke of bondage’ referred to, was the ‘law of commandments contained in ORDINANCES,’ and not the Royal Law. Circumcision was a part of the law of Moses which was abolished, and from which the Galatians had been made free by faith in Jesus. Judaizing teachers were urging circumcision and other ordinances of Moses' law, and the Galatians were in danger of being drawn away from faith in Christ, back to the ordinances of the Jewish religion, which virtually ceased at the cross. Those who would thus leave Christ, and go back to do the deeds of that law that had been dead 27 years, would certainly fall from grace. Circumcision of the ‘heart in the spirit’ had taken the place of that which was ‘outward in the flesh,’ and the Great Sacrifice had taken the place of those offered by the Jews. Now any one may see that the Galatians would fall from grace through Christ, by observing the law of Moses.
But it is impossible for any one to show how the Galatians, or Christians at this day, would fall from grace in observing the fourth commandment in connection with their other Christian duties. It can be readily seen how the observance of the law of Moses would lead one from Christ, but will our opponents show us what there is in the Holy Sabbath of the Lord calculated to lead one from Christ?
They know better, or certainly should know better, than to apply Gal. v, 4 to Christian Sabbath-keepers. We do not believe that any sane person really believes that a Christian would fall from grace by keeping the “commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” But the idea is given by our opponents that we are falling from grace to prejudice those we wish to benefit, and keep them from the truth.
Says the editor of the “Harbinger”—“And so far as any now seek, to be justified by that dead law [commandments of God we suppose Ed.] they are fallen from grace according to the declaration of Paul. Beware how you treat this important matter, lest you find yourself fallen from grace, when it is too late to be recovered from the fearful fall.”
We agree with the “Harbinger” that if we seek justification by the deeds of the dead law of Moses we shall fall from grace, but we really feel safe in observing the law of God which Paul “served,” “delighted” in, and called “holy, just and good” 29 years after the hand-writing of ordinances died at the cross. See Rom, vii, and remember that his letter was written 29 years after the crucifixion.
The editor of the “Harbinger,” Nov. 15th, represents us as standing upon the very brink of “irretrievable ruin,” because we observe the fourth precept of the Royal Law, which was the delight of Paul, and of which he so highly speaks. In his remarks to Sr. E. A. M., Jan. 24th, his tone seems somewhat changed. He thinks that this Sister may observe the Sabbath and still be Christ's. He, however, represents the Sabbath as the “yoke of bondage,” and the Sister liable of falling from grace.
Dear reader, study these points carefully, and be not deceived by those who make void the fourth precept of the immutable law of God. If men tell you that you will fall from grace in observing the Holy Sabbath, enjoin it upon them to show you how the observance of the commandments of God, will lead one to fall from grace through Jesus Christ. O, be not deceived by the modern heresy that the faith of Jesus abolishes the commandments of God “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, [the Father,] and the faith of Jesus,” [the Son.]

WHO MAY HEAR THE TRUTH?

By Editor

Answer. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," Rev. iii, 13. This verse immediately precedes the call to the Laodiceans to buy "gold tried in the fire," "white raiment" and "eye-salve," and the exhortation to them to be "zealous" and "repent." If, therefore, we are living in the period of the Laodicean church, then he that now hath an ear to hear may hear.
The Prophet speaks of those [Jer. vi, 10] whose "ears are uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken." "The word of the Lord is unto them a reproach: they have no delight in it." The condition of the Jewish Church, as a body, after they had rejected the first advent of Christ is described as follows by the prophet Isaiah: "Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Acts xxviii, 26, 27. The mass of the present generation, having rejected the doctrine of the Second Advent, are in a similar condition, having ears, but have no disposition to hear the truth. The condition of those who once rejoiced in the advent faith, and have since pronounced their past experience the work of some unclean spirit, is no better.
As the large mass of mankind have not an ear to hear the word of God, the Spirit of God, gives us no message for them. But, thank Heaven, there are those who have an ear to hear the truth, and we say of such, "let them hear." Those whose hearts are not hardened in sin, who have not wickedly trampled on offered mercy, who have not understandingly rejected the glad tidings of the coming kingdom, and who can feel the power of truth, "let them hear." We never felt greater liberty in pointing out the way of life to sinners in past years, than to such now.
Many of our brethren in this state, who are fully with us in our views of the message of the third angel, had no part in the messages of the first and second angels. And quite a number of young people are fully with us, who have recently found Jesus, and experienced his pardoning love. The Lord is at work converting the children of believing parents to Christ and the whole truth, in almost every family where the parents receive the present message.
"He that hath an ear to hear let him hear," the truth, and the whole truth. God forbid that we should lower the standard of truth to suit the unbelief of any one. We fully believe that the plain truth of the present message will draw out the real children of the Lord, and separate the precious from the vile.

LETTERS.

By Joseph Bates; Hiram Edson

From Brn. Bates and Edson.

DEAR BRO. WHITE: Since our last from Toronto, (C. W.) as published in the "Review and Herald" No. 10, we have accomplished the circuit around Lake Ontario.
From the various places we visited, from Kingston (C. W.) to this place, we left more than one hundred interested in the present truth, many of which confessed that the Sabbath of the Lord our God was clear, and began to keep it in connection with those that had embraced it at an earlier period. More than fifty, as you will see by the list of names, are anxious to receive the paper. Many also confessed that they see no light coming from the various positions now occupied and presented by the professed leading Adventists, while the third angel's message looked clear and unobjectionable.
We now expect to leave here in the morning for Ulysses, Alleghany County, Penn., embracing in our way Batavia, Mill Grove, Buffalo, Fredonia, Busti, and other places in this state as the way opens, and if the Lord will, reach Ulysses in time to spend the last Sabbath and first day in Feb. in conference with the brethren in that place, and the next week following in Bath, N. Y.
While we were in Canada West one of the brethren showed us an ancient translation of the New Testament, that was so mutilated that we could not learn when it was published or who translated it. We thought that 2 Cor. iii, 3, 4, 6—18, was much to the point. The following is a copy.

2 Cor. Chap. iii, 3, 4, 6—18.

Verse 3. "For it is apparent to the world that you are Christ's epistle written by our ministration, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God—inscribed not on tables of stone, but on the tablets of the human heart.
4. "Such is the firm confidence we repose thro' Christ in the supreme being.
6. "Who hath empowered and qualified us to be ministers of the new covenant, not the Mosaic, but the Christian covenant—for the Mosaic pronounced an irreversible sentence of death upon its transgressors; but the Christian covenant holds forth the palm of immortality.
7. "But if the dispensation which annexed death to the violation of it, and whose laws were engraven on stones, was ushered in with such magnificence and splendor (a splendor that was only designed to be transcient and temporary) that the eyes of the Israelites could not support the dazzling beams that darted from the countenance of Moses,
8. "How much more glorious and effulgent must be the lustre of the Christian dispensation.
9. "For if that rigid and implacable dispensation which condemned the offender to death by an irreversible sentence, was introduced with such striking pomp and glory, how infinitely superior must be the strong and ineffable radiance of that dispensation which is replete with benignity and mercy.
10. "But in this respect the glory that was reflected on the former dispensation vanishes into nothing when compared with the superior splendor of the latter.
11. "For if that economy which was destined to be superceded and annulled, was delivered with such an ostentatious display of grandeur—how much more glorious must be that economy which is designed to be forever durable and permanent.
12. "Animated therefore with these hopes, we use great freedom and liberty in our addresses.
13. "We are not like Moses who covered himself with a vail—so that the children of Israel could not clearly see the end and design of a dispensation which was intended to be abrogated:
14. "But their rational faculties were involved in the mists of darkness—for to the present day that very vail which Christ hath removed and forever abolished continues to enwrap their minds when they read the old testament; and still shrouds their understandings in the baleful shades of obscurity and gloom.
15. "To this very day when the law of Moses is read by them, the vail remains upon their hearts.
16. "But when the Jews shall be converted to the Lord, the vail that now involves and obscures their minds, shall be forever removed.
17. "By being converted to the Lord I mean being converted to the spiritual institution of the gospel—and where this spiritual dispensation of God is, there is the truest liberty.
18. "But we all, with unvailed face, beholding the glory of the Lord reflected as from the brightest mirror are metamorphosed into the same moral resemblance; receiving continual accessions of glory and splendor, emitted from the great indefectible source of spiritual light.
JOSEPH BATES. HIRAM EDSON.
Centerport, (N. Y.) Feb., 1, 1852.

A First Sabbath Experience

By E. R. Seaman

From Bro. Seaman.

Dear Bro. White: I am very thankful that God in his mercy has counted me worthy to suffer with those who are everywhere spoken against. Even that paper, where once the light emanated, is now loud in its denunciations against those who are striving to give meat in due season. Last Sabbath and First-day Bro. Baker spoke to a few at Bro. Patten's. Sabbath after-noon the Lord poured out his Spirit in a special manner, and our cups were filled to overflowing. It was the first time I had kept the Sabbath, and when I spoke, I received the witness of the Spirit that God was there. Although there are some objections which I am not competent to answer, yet I am determined to hold on to the arm of God, for he will make it plain.Here we must contend with spiritual wickedness in high places, and also with those that have turned their ears from the truth, and are turned unto fables. May God open their eyes before it is too late.
There is much to be done here, and only a few weak worms to do it. The field is large but the laborers are few. We should pray the Lord to send more laborers into the harvest. I can but anticipate the time when quite a large band will be established here. God will do his work in his own time and way. I pray God that he will speed the day when the 144,000 will all be sealed, and Jesus will come out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth.
The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain to be delivered.
May God bless the scattered flock. Amen. E. R. Seaman. Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 9th, 1852.
Continue reading: WM. S. INGRAHAM