IS IT POSSIBLE? by Editor

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, January 29, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 5

IS IT POSSIBLE?

By Editor

For the past thirty years light upon the obligation of the Bible Sabbath in connection with the fulfillment of prophecy, has been shining forth with ever increasing luster. The sacredness of its claims has been impressed in line upon line and precept upon precept upon the minds of all who would either read or listen. Warning after warning has been given concerning the perils of the last days, and the dangers which would gather like a thick cloud about that portion of the journey where we now are, called the patience of the saints, when iniquity should abound, the love of many wax cold, and the tendency all the time be (with those who did not specially guard against it) to a weaker faith and a laxer life.

On these points, vital to success in the Christian race, it scarcely seems that anything more remains to be said. Yet with the light shining full in their faces it seems that some are so far falling under the influence of the drowsiness and stupor peculiar to this time, as to carelessly close their eyes; with the warning sounding in their ears, we fear some are suffering themselves to be led directly from the narrow way.

It is with astonishment that we hear of such looseness in reference to the observance of the Sabbath, as is mentioned below, on the part of those who know the truth and profess to love it. A sister, desiring to visit worldly friends, makes a journey of twenty-four miles upon the Sabbath for that object. Another sister, learning that there was a registered letter for her at the post-office, walks two miles on Sabbath morning, secures the money and returns, meanwhile leaving the Sabbath-school within half a mile of her own home without its secretary and treasurer. A brother buys a blacksmith's shop, furnishing shop, tools, and stock, to a man to work it on equal shares, the shop to be worked upon the Sabbath!

We are happy to believe that these are exceptional cases; but if these reports be true, the fact that there is a single case like those above mentioned among those who have taken their stand to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, reveals the germ of a laxity in this respect which calls for the voice of remonstrance and alarm.

The Lord is coming. The great day which shall try every man's work by fire, is near and hasteth greatly. And those who then hope to ride upon the high places of the earth, and to be fed with the heavenly heritage of Jacob, will be found, while practicing other duties, also to have turned away their feet from the Sabbath, and to have refrained from doing their pleasure on God's holy day. They will have called the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord and honorable, and will have honored him, by not doing their own ways, nor finding their own pleasure, nor speaking their own words, upon his holy time.