Answer to a Letter containing Objections to the Sabbath
By Lois J. Richmond
Answer to a Letter containing Objections to the Sabbath.
DEAR SISTER:—You first state in your letter that you cannot see as the ten commandments are binding upon us as they were upon the children of Israel as a nation. I answer, the commandments of God have been given in three different forms. First, in their verbal form. Second, they were written on tables of stone. And third, on the fleshly tables of the heart. Jer. xxxi, 31—33; Heb. viii, 10. But you may be ready to answer, that the law of God did not exist until it was given at Mount Sinai, and written on tables of stone. But if the law of God did not exist till then, then sin did not exist; for "sin is the transgression of the law," and "where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. iv, 15; iii, 20. "For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law." Rom. v, 13. Now if the work of the law had not been written in the heart before the giving of the written word, how could God have counted men sinners, when they had no law to transgress. If the transgression of the law has existed from the beginning, it follows that its requirements have, also, existed. Again, what are the conditions on which Abraham was to have the inheritance? It was because Abraham "obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws." Then, in order that we may be heirs with Abraham to the same inheritance, we must comply with the same conditions on which Abraham was to have the inheritance, for if we would be the children of Abraham we must do the works of Abraham. The old covenant had moral and ceremonial conditions. The moral conditions are the ten commandments. The ceremonial conditions were the law of ceremonies which was added to the ten commandments, because the children of Israel had broken them, that they might have a way of escape. Had they never broken the ten commandments, the law of ceremonies never would have been added. But it was added because of transgression, till the seed should come to whom the promises were made. If you say it was the law of God that was added, I ask, to what was it added? If you say to the promise, then I ask, why was it added? If you give a scriptural answer, you must say, because of transgression. Then, as where no law is, there is no transgression, I must necessarily come to the conclusion that the law of God existed before the giving of it on Mount Sinai, and because of its transgression the law of ceremonies was added; that literal Israel might have a way of escape after they had broken the commandments of God; that they might make atonement, and find forgiveness for their sins; that Christ, the promised heir, might come through the lineage of David, and the covenant made with Abraham still be good. But when Christ came, the law of commandments contained in ordinances was done away, and the law of God was written on the fleshly tables of the heart. It is called the new covenant, not because it did not before exist, but because its conditions are different, and the ceremonial law is done away. Now, instead of offering burnt-offerings and sacrifices, when we transgress the law of God, we have only to come to Jesus, and through faith in him find forgiveness for our sins. Again, you say that Christ came to fulfill the law, and when it was fulfilled the inference is, that it passed away. But let us hear what the word of God says on this point: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled." Matt. v, 17. But if the Sabbath has passed, then more than a jot or tittle has passed. Does not the apostle Paul say, in Rom. viii, 4, "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." Then, if we are to fulfill the righteousness of the law it has not yet passed away. We may, by keeping the commandments, fulfill the righteousness of the law; but by so doing we shall not destroy it.—Paul says, in the 7th verse of the same chapter, "that the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither, indeed, can be." Again, you say, in regard to the ten commandments, that you now see that they did not have to be abolished and re-enacted by the Lord, but were in force until fulfilled by Christ, and thus had their desired end, and Christ came in as lawgiver. In regard to Christ coming in as lawgiver it is sufficient to say that there is but one lawgiver, and that one is God. And if he has abolished his law, a part of his own constitution, he alone can bring it back.—If God abolished his law because man did not need it, and then Christ comes in as lawgiver and gives it because man does need it, then they are divided against themselves. As its re-enactment cannot be shown, I must believe that it is not abolished, but stands the same as when given on Mount Sinai, only now it is written on the fleshly tables of the heart. If the law of God is abolished and none of its precepts re-enacted, then we are at liberty to have other gods before us, or make graven images, or kill, or break any of the commandments and still be without sin; for sin is the transgression of the law, and where no law is there is no transgression. Suppose for instance, that I should break the first, second or any of the commandments except the fourth, would you fellowship me as a Christian? I answer, No, you would tell me, at once, that I was a sinner in the sight of God. But were I to enquire, why I was a sinner, you could not show me, without referring to, or quoting from the ten commandments, which you cannot do, as you believe they are abolished, destroyed and not re-enacted. O, my soul mourns over those who, for the sake of getting rid of the fourth commandment, are willing to abolish all the commandments, which Paul delighted in, and called holy, just and good. Again, you say that were you to embrace the view that the ten commandments were binding, you could not see it to be true that the keeping of the First-day sabbath was the mark of the beast; for if it is so, then most of the martyrs died with this mark, and most of the good pilgrims in the latter days, must come up branded in this manner. I answer, in Dan. vii, 25, the Papal power is brought to view, "and he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time times and the dividing of time," or 1260 years. During this period of time the Papal power has been trying to change the law of God, and instead of keeping the seventh day as commanded, have gradually brought into use the first day of the week, upon their own authority. This could not have reference to human times and laws, for those he has the power to change. But he was to think to change the times and laws of God, by treading down his immutable precept, the holy Sabbath. Sunday-keeping is an institution of the beast, and all who obey this institution, emphatically worship the beast. This is the very thing wherein the two-horned beast will cause the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, and to receive his mark. The truth of God declares it, and history shows its fulfillment. All must admit there is no point of religious faith so prominent in the Roman world as that of Sunday-keeping, and that there is no other principle in the religious church upon which such unity of faith exists. It is a prominent characteristic mark, and it is of the first beast. The third angel is now raising his loud and warning voice against worshiping the beast, or receiving his mark. And has he no mark to administer? Yes, he has the seal or mark of the living God. And what is it? It is the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Why is it said, "here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?" Because one of them has been trodden down more than 1260 years, and although nine have been kept, it could not be said that they were keeping the commandments; because it is written, "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and shall fail with respect to one precept, has become guilty of all." Therefore, the trodden-down commandment must be restored and kept. And it is now being restored, and the breach is being made up in the law of God. God's people are turning away their feet from the Sabbath, ceasing to tread it down, and are calling it a delight and by so doing, they are called the repairers of the breach, and restorers of paths to dwell in. Isa. lviii, 12, 13. In regard to the Martyrs and Christians in days gone by having the mark of the beast, I should say that the church has been in a wilderness state 1260 years. And the two witnesses prophesied in sackcloth during the same period. Since that time, light upon the Scriptures has been increasing, and great light is now shining upon the commandments of God. Therefore, more is required of us, for where much is given much will be required. And as they did not88have the true light upon the commandments, but conscientiously kept the first day of the week as a Sabbath, and lived according to the best light they had, therefore, they were guiltless; for Jesus stood ready to blot out the errors of his people. But now, in these last moments of time, God is preparing a people to stand when Jesus shall leave the Heavenly Sanctuary, and shall take his seat upon the great white cloud, clothed with the garments of vengeance, to execute judgment upon the ungodly. Then we shall have no mediator to plead our cause before the Father. Then the sentence will for ever be passed, he that is unjust and filthy let him be so still.—He that is holy, and righteous let him be so still. If we are found with error then it will sink us down to death. But thanks be to God that we have a Great High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary, who is now standing before the mercy-seat, pleading his blood in our behalf; and now is the time to confess our errors before him, that our sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Again, you say, that if this be true you would be glad to know it, but while you have such evidences to the contrary you can but reject it as error. Then you say you have no objection to our keeping the seventh day, and would be glad if all Christendom were keeping that day, because if we keep it as a Sabbath to the Lord it seems more proper to keep the day he honored, and commanded his ancient people to keep. But the moment you make keeping the Seventh-day a test of Christianity, it brings us under the law, and methinks the Apostle would tell us that we were fallen from grace. According to what you say, you believe us to be in error, yet would be glad to see all Christians keeping the seventh day. In reference to our making the seventh-day Sabbath a test, I would say we do not make it a test. But God's word says, "he that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be of no esteem in the reign of heaven." And again, "he that shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." And again, "he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments; is a liar and the truth is not in him." 1 John ii, 4. I am willing to abide by His Word, to walk out upon his truth, and keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. And I feel that my feet are planted upon a sure foundation. Though the storm and tempest may rage, the seven last plagues be poured out upon this ungodly world, yet if I stand firm upon the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus, I shall be covered with the covering of Almighty God, so that I shall pass through the time of trouble, see the King in his beauty, and at last stand upon Mount Zion with the 144,000, that are redeemed from the earth. LOIS J. RICHMOND. Ashfield, Mass., Sept. 1852.