The Relation which the Sabbath sustains to other Points of Present Truth.
By v. s.
No truth need be more clearly demonstrated than that the Sabbath of the Lord, instituted and given to man at creation, is still binding upon the whole human family. Perhaps no truth can be more clearly demonstrated: indeed, the fourth commandment itself enforces its own obligation. Aside from the vast amount of evidence which is found throughout the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation, that commandment alone is sufficient to establish its own perpetuity, and show the obligation, which everywhere rests upon men to remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. It was a fact that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and rested on the seventh; on that fact the institution is based; and there lies the reason why it should be enforced. If that reason was good then, it is good at the present day; and if good now, the institution which rests upon it is no less immutable. This none can deny, unless they would affirm that God is changeable, and make him altogether such an one as themselves. But while the child of God rejoices in the clear light which shines upon this subject, in itself considered; that he has been enabled to turn away from the commandments and traditions of men, and remember and honor the great Creator by keeping the Rest-day which he has instituted; there is another consideration calculated to inspire gratitude in every true heart: it is, that the mighty evidence on this point goes to strengthen other portions of the truth of God. Such is the connection, relation and dependence of one great truth upon another, that every additional evidence upon one, proportionably strengthens all the rest; and thus, by this reciprocal strength which each point furnishes to the others, the great platform of truth is established, on which God's people will finally be found standing, and which will abide the test of the great day. While therefore we feel established upon the subject of the Sabbath, and that we may safely challenge the world to disprove our position, we should feel equally strengthened upon other subjects of present truth; for by this they are rendered so much the stronger. That we may more clearly perceive the relation which this truth sustains to our present position, let us consider how the matter would stand, if there had not been, or if there was no need of, any reform upon this subject. The third, and last, angel, under whose message we believe we are now living, announces a company who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus: he points them out in distinction to the great mass who worship the beast and his image. Now if it was the case that the great portion of the world were keeping all the commandments of God; if it was not true that most of professed christendom were disregarding or misapplying one of the plainest precepts of the law, and that those who give heed to this message, were endeavoring to repair the breach, to restore the broken commandment, and keep the whole law in its holiness and beauty;—if these things were not so, there would be no meaning in the declaration, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God;” but as it is, it is most cogent and direct: there is the most beautiful harmony between such an announcement and the facts themselves. And here we have reciprocal proof that the third angel is now fulfilling his mission. Independently of the long chain of prophecy from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar to the present time, by which we are led to the same conclusion, the fact that there is a class coming up on the length and breadth of the land, guided by the light of revelation, who answer the description there given, and are fulfilling the work there assigned, is strong circumstantial evidence at least that that message is now going forth. Again, the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament. The temple was opened and the ark was seen. Attention being thus especially called to the ark, we are led to consider it further. By referring to the type we find it, with its mercy-seat and cherubim of gold, and above it the visible manifestation of God's glory, the most important object connected with the Sanctuary. Considering the ark we are led to consider its contents. It contained the tables of the testimony: the ten commandments engraven with the finger of God in two tables of stone. Beholding these commandments, that they occupy so holy and exalted a place we examine them more attentively. But we find that the decalogue of the present day does not agree with the decalogue of God. The fourth commandment has been removed; and though an attempt has been made to supply its place with a wretched Pagan substitute, it is as good as destroyed. We trace this work more directly to the man of sin. Beyond him we find it springing from Paganism, and consequently from the Devil. It becomes then the duty of all those who by faith understand the work of our great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary; who follow him into the Most Holy, where he performs the last act of his ministration; who behold there the ark before which he ministers, and the immutable law which it contains;—it becomes the duty of all such to restore the breach which has been made by Antichrist, and keep the commandments according to the requirements of God. All who believe and understand this work will do this. Thus we see that the subjects of the Sanctuary and the Sabbath are inseparably connected. Whoever admits the truth of the first, must admit it also on the second: the Sanctuary contains the ark, the ark contains the law, and the law contains the fourth commandment unabolished and unchanged. But when we say that light on the Sabbath is so intimately connected with the work in the Sanctuary, work which has taken place within a short time comparatively, it may be asked if there have not always been those who have kept the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Very true, there have. God has never suffered any one of his precepts to fall entirely into disuse; and there have been those from the days of Adam to the present time who have kept the fourth. But this is no objection to the view that in the purpose of God, especial attention should be called to this point in these last days; that as the last work in the plan of salvation is being accomplished, and it becomes necessary that the man of God should be “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works,” new light should break forth on this vital truth, which has been shrouded in darkness by the great apostasy. That light is being seen, and by a people who perceive whence it comes; therefore are they endeavoring to render to their Creator, obedience to every precept of his perfect law. Rev. xii, 17. “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.” Here again is a distinction between the remnant or the people of God, and the armies of the dragon. This distinction is something connected with the commandments; but how could this exist, if things were not as they are in regard to the fourth; for the dragon himself is perfectly willing that one should keep the other nine, yea, he would make war upon you, if you did'nt; and you may keep the fourth, without any trouble, or endeavor to do so, if you will only observe it on Sunday. In Rev. xiii, we read about the mark of the beast. This mark the third angel explains to be something contrary to the commandments of God, or which those who keep the commandments of God do not receive. But this could not so be, were it not that the beast, the Catholic power, had robbed the law of God of its signature, its seal of royalty, and placed its own in its stead. By this brief outline we perceive something of the nature which the Sabbath sustains to other prominent points of present truth. If we believe the third angel's message, it leads to an examination of this subject. If we admit that the 2300 days terminated in the past, (and the man is'nt living who can disprove it,) we must admit the truth in regard to the Sanctuary. If we admit this, we must admit the Sabbath. So in regard to other points which we need not mention. Therefore whatever additional evidence we gain on any one point of truth, so far goes to strengthen the whole; for they are inseparably connected. v. s.