The Law and the Testimony by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1909

The Law and the Testimony

By C. M. S.

WHEN the people of God have been in great danger of deception, the Lord has always raised up a standard, and invited those who would be his to rally around that standard. His assurance is: “I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” Isa. 49:25. It is only those who have entrusted their case to him that receive this help from Jehovah. He has never promised to help any against their will. He can not fight for those who place themselves in the ranks of the enemy from choice, or who, while in the ranks of the enemy, refuse to heed the rallying call of the Almighty. This is no haphazard mode of procedure, but is along the direct line of the Lord’s declared purpose. He says: “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and [come] unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.” Isa. 59:19, 20.

It is not difficult to see from this text alone what the standard is. The Lord comes “unto them that turn from transgression;” in other words, to those who are keeping his holy law. Transgression is but another word for sin. Sin is the opposite of righteousness; and the standard of righteousness is the law of God. Righteousness is the prerequisite of salvation, for without holiness, or righteousness, “no man shall see the Lord.”

Then that standard of righteousness, the law of God, must figure in the very last experiences of those who are numbered among the remnant saved out of the last generation of men. That means that the law of God will be in full force and efficiency up to the very moment when our Saviour appears in the clouds of heaven, and that men’s attitude toward that law will determine whether they are to meet Christ in peace and go with him, or whether they will remain here to partake of the portion allotted to his avowed enemies.

This use of God’s law as a standard for his people is not an experience peculiar to the last generation of men. When Israel of old was beset on all sides by idolaters and necromancers—demon-worshipers and spiritualists—the Lord had the same remedy to offer to protect his people against those delusions that were threatening the ruin of their souls. Thus we read in Isa. 8:19, 20:—

“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards, that chirp and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living should they seek unto the dead? To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.”

That law (the ten commandments) and that testimony (God’s instructions to his people through his prophets) constituted the divine remedy against deception in the days of literal Israel; and conditions have not so changed as to make necessary a change of remedy for the people of our day. What protected them against the deceptions of the devil will protect us also. The law of God and the testimony of his Spirit, given through his accredited prophets, furnish a sufficient test for any movement or any development or any teaching. If in harmony with that standard, they are of him; if out of harmony with it, they have no part in his work, and can only deceive and destroy.

When Israel of old was counseled to seek to the dead concerning the living, their knowledge of “the law and the prophets,” enabled them to escape the net of the hunter of souls. When the professed church of Christ to-day meets the same temptation, a very large part

have no such test, no such protection. They have declared the law abolished, and their criticism of the teachings of the prophets has weakened the influence of the Word upon the people. What is the result?—The great body of the professed church of Christ is accepting the teachings of Spiritualism, or teachings that lead thereto. They people the world with the disembodied spirits of the dead, hovering about the living, and intensely interested in all that the living are doing, saying, and thinking. It is only one step, then, to the establishment of communication between the living and the spirits of the dead. That other step—and a short one it is, too—is Spiritualism, and it seems a consistent thing to take the step when one believes the dead are still alive. “The law and the testimony” would have fortified them against such a deception, if their authority had been recognized and their teachings believed. But Spiritualism is now one of the greatest deceptions of the age, and is winning adherents by the thousand. With the law abolished and the prophets discredited, the church has lost her shield, and the fiery darts of the enemy find her vulnerable at every point.

When ancient Israel was asked to join forces with other powers—to confederate with earthly forces to accomplish certain ends—the counsel of the Lord was just as explicit as in the matter above mentioned. The Lord had promised to be their rock, their strong tower, their defender, their strength, their mighty counselor. The great ocean liner of the present day needs no windmill on her deck to help drive her forward. Such a contrivance would be an impediment rather than a propelling power. Just so with Israel. With the mighty power of God, what need had they of confederating with the powers of the world. Such confederacies could only interfere with God’s purpose concerning them. So the Lord instructed them thus:—

“Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Isa. 8: 12, 13.

Then comes this positive admonition (verse 16), so similar to that given in connection with the deception of necromancy and Spiritualism: “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” A proper understanding and regard for the law and the testimony would be their safeguard against the snare of a confederacy. Had Israel heeded that advice, her history would have been very different from what it was. What was true of Israel will be true of the professed church in our day. The call of the different churches to-day is for confederacy to accomplish certain ends—confederacy among themselves in spite of their differences, and looking finally to confederacy with that great spiritual power that has taken “the testimony,” the Word itself, away from the people, and set its hand to change the law. A loyal adherence to “the law and the testimony” would not permit them to be caught in such a snare; but they have declared the law abolished. So what care they for any change made in an abolished law? Many of their leaders are heaping reproach upon the Word. So what care they if those with whom they seek to confederate keep that Word away from the common people? The shield is thrown down again, and the arrows of the adversary have free course. The confederacy will be formed, and the head of the confederacy will lead the confederates to the ruin that awaits all who forsake the law of God and the teachings of his Word.

The call, “To the law and to the testimony,” is as essential, now as ever in the history of God’s people. That it will be given and heeded during the last generation of men is shown by this statement of Holy Writ concerning those who stand faithful to God through the fiery trials of the last days:—

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12: 17.

Again the revelator says, in pointing out this same company:—

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 12.

Thus can we see the supreme importance of our assuming the right attitude toward God’s great law and toward the testimony of his Spirit given by the prophets through the ages for the guidance and the safety of his people.

C. M. S.