But if the fourth oracle is abolished, then none of the above texts, which all hang upon it, can be brought to bear against the heathen, or Catholic missionary above named. But take off my restriction, and let me have the fourth oracle, which is the signature that reveals our Law-giver, and his power and authority, then we can keep the field, and be assured of victory. For an experiment we will quote from the fourth oracle, and from the testimony borrowed from it, and which hangs upon it. "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of THE LORD THY GOD. FOR in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is." Here, and here alone, in the fourth oracle, and the testimony or teaching which is borrowed from it, is brought to view the true Law-giver, and his eternal power and Godhead, as the Creator and Maker of all that the eye can behold, or the mind conceive of, both of matter, animate and inanimate. And his right to claim the obedience of all his own creation, must of necessity be at once admitted, and thus we have the victory. Every candid mind must admit that the fourth oracle is what clothes the divine law with majesty, power and authority. The Sabbath of the Lord our God is the signature, or sign and memorial, which brings to view and makes known to us our true Law-giver, the Lord our God. And to this also, agrees the testimony of the prophets, which hang upon the oracle. Eze. xx, 20. "And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a SIGN between me and you, THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD." Who can fail of seeing the great object and importance of the Sabbath, so clearly revealed in this text? If we observe it to hallow or keep it, it will be a sign or monument. A memorial whereby we may KNOW that he is the Lord our God; whom to know is life everlasting. Amen.
Blessed are they that DO his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life. "Moreover also I gave them MY Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD that sanctify them." Said Jesus, "sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." "Thy law," as David has said, "is the truth." Read also Ex. xxxi, 13-17. "Verily my Sabbath, ye shall keep; for it is a SIGN between me and you, through your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath, THEREFORE, for it is holy unto you. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a SIGN between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh he rested and was refreshed."
From the above we think no candid mind can fail of seeing clearly the great object and importance of the Sabbath, and that it is the fourth oracle or commandment which clothes the divine law with majesty, power and authority. Without it the divine law would be powerless; for the whole law, and its majesty, power and authority, all hang on, and depend upon the fact of the existence of the Law-giver, and his right of power and authority. These are all brought to view in the fourth oracle of the divine law, and hang upon it. From these premises it is clear that the whole Bible borrows its authority and power from, and hangs upon the fourth oracle or statute in the divine law. Amen.
Thus we can clearly see a halo of glory shed around the Sabbath commandment, above all the other oracles or statutes in the divine law.
And God has been more particular in guarding the Holy Sabbath, than any other precept in the divine constitution. The most awful demonstrations of the divine displeasure, indignation and wrath are threatened against such as violate, defile and pollute his Holy Sabbath. And the greatest blessings, promised in the Bible, are to such as REMEMBER the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Read Jer. xvii, 19-27; Ex. xxxi, 13-17; Jer. vi, 16-19; Eze. xxii, 26, 29; xiii, 4, 5; Isa. lviii, 12-14, and chap. lvi; Rev. xiv, 9-11. The promise of standing in the battle in the day of the Lord, when a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, [Ps. xci.] and of finally riding upon the high places of the earth, and of being fed with the heritage of Jacob our father, is on condition of our keeping the Sabbath, the Holy of the Lord, and thus make up the gap or breach in the divine law. Eze. xiii, 4, 5; Isa. lviii, 12-14. The promise of being gathered to God's holy mountain, is upon the condition of keeping the Sabbath. Isa. lvi. And the awful threatenings of God through the third angel's message, [Rev. xiv, 9-11] is against those who reject the mark or SIGN of God, and receive the MARK or SIGN of the beast. Such are very soon to drink of the wine of God's wrath without mixture, [of mercy,] which is filled up in the seven vials of the seven last plagues.
To abolish the Sabbath would be to abolish the work and the HONORABLE of the Lord. Isa. lviii, 13. Further, to abolish and put away from the Bible, the fourth oracle or statute, and that which is borrowed from, and hangs upon it, is to abolish and put away from the Bible, the God of the Bible, and leave the Bible shorn of its strength, majesty and power, and at the control of designing men to turn it into a mere machinery of priest-craft, and this is the very identical course the man of sin has pursued. And those who are trying to abolish the Sabbath are pursuing the very identical course pursued by the "first beast." In the beginning "God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." Eccl. vii, 29. The first invention of man was to become as gods, by partaking of the forbidden fruit. And the last crowning invention of man is to "exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped. So that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, SHOWING HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD." Saying in his heart, I AM and NONE ELSE BESIDES ME. 2 Thess. ii, 3-7; Isa. xlvii, 8, 10. We will notice next in order in contrast with the mark or sign of God,
THE SIGN OR MARK OF THE BEAST.
He is the rival of God, the working of the mystery of iniquity. The man of sin, opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Saying in his heart I AM and NONE ELSE BESIDES ME. Opening his mouth in blasphemy against God, blaspheming his name. Rev. xiii, 6. Thinking himself able to change the times and laws of God. See the Doway Bible. Casting down the truth to the ground, practicing and prospering with his heart and indignation against the holy covenant. Having intelligence with such as forsake and do wickedly against the holy covenant. Corrupting such by flatteries. While the people that do know their God, they know him by observing his sign or memorial. See Eze. xx, 20. Such were strong, doing exploits in holding and maintaining the standard, bearing their King's sign. Such were "WISE instructing many." To rally around and maintain their standard, on which was inscribed the SIGN and MEMORIAL of their King, under whose banner they were fighting. And for so doing many had to fall (by the ruthless hand of the man of sin,) "by sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days." Dan. vii, 25; viii, 12; xi, 33-35. And thus the war was carried on between the man of sin, and the subjects of the kingdom of God.
In a war of conquest, when two opposing rivals are brought in battle array, each army has its own standard, bearing the sign of their king, for whom they are fighting. If one of these opposing powers succeeds in subjecting the other, he supplants the standard and sign of his subjected rival, and establishes his own standard and sign as the token of his power and authority over the subjected province, and thus shows himself exalted above his opposing rival.
And thus has the beast, the man of sin, practiced and prospered. The observance of the Holy Sabbath, which is the sign and memorial of God, and of his right to rule, the beast has cast down to the ground, and has instituted and established, in its stead, his own sign and memorial of himself to be observed as the token or sign of himself, and of his exaltation above God, and that he is, and none else besides him, and thereby showing that he is God, and able to change the times and laws of God. Inasmuch as God has shown himself to be the Lord our God by his sign and memorial; viz. the observance of the Sabbath as holy time. Therefore, there can in no wise be any other act of the beast whereby he can SHOW himself that he is God, but by another institution of his own, of holy time, to be observed as a sign to show thereby that he is God. This he has done, and enforced its observance upon the penalty and infliction of death. No other process or act of the beast, can in any wise answer the fulfillment of the prophecy of his SHOWING himself that he is God. And as a further proof of this fact, it must necessarily be an act of changing God's time and laws, and an institution like that of God's, calculated in itself to SHOW forth the same thing, viz. that he is God.
And thus the question is settled that the institution, and observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, as holy time, is the sign or the mark of the beast. And whereas the observance of the Sabbath of the Lord our God is a very special portion of the worship of God, and the most effectual acknowledgment on our part that he is the Lord our God; so also the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, as holy time, is a very special portion of the worship of the beast, and the most effectual acknowledgment, on the part of those who observe it, that the beast is above God. Escape this conclusion who can. Whatever may be the pretence for observing the first day of the week, the real cause grows out of its first institution. Had the beast never instituted the observance of the first day of the week as holy time, none would be observing it.
Let the candid and unprejudiced mind seriously consider these things, and understand and know for themselves, that these conclusions are unavoidable. And then read in Rev. xiv, 9-11, the awful destiny of all who worship the beast, and his image, or receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand. Forehead is the seat of the mind, which receives truth and principles of righteousness, or error and principles of unrighteousness. The right hand is the principle member of the body which is used in carrying into effect what the mind determines to be done. The mark is not a literal, external mark in the forehead; but a principle received in the mind and carried out in the act of life. The term right hand is very extensively made use of in a figurative sense in the Bible, to denote the principal acts or doings of God and man. Read Ps. xxvi, 9, 10; xlviii, 10; lxxviii, 51; xcviii, 1; cxlii, 5; cxxxvii, 5; Ex. xv, 6; Deut. xxxiii, 2; Job xl, 14; Eccl. x, 2; Isa. xiv, 2; lxiii, 12.
The beast has also changed, and cast down to the ground the memorials of salvation and redemption through Christ. We have redemption through his sufferings or broken body and blood. The beast has changed the memorial of this, by withholding the bread and wine from the laity and substituting the wafer in its stead. Baptism is a memorial of the burial and resurrection of Christ, and of a surety of the resurrection of the just in the likeness of Christ. See Rom. vi, 3-5; 1 Cor. xv, 29; Col. ii, 12. This memorial he has changed to sprinkling which bears no resemblance of a burial or resurrection. In this he has changed the ordinance, besides breaking the everlasting covenant. Isa. xxiv. And by casting down these memorials, and taking upon himself the office of Christ, he has exalted himself above Christ, and so has exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped. And although he has practiced and prospered in this so also in casting down the sign and memorial of God, and exalted the own above it, while it was given him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them, through the dark reign of his power, keeping them in the dark wilderness and fog of error for 1260 years, being taught for doctrines the traditions and commandments of men, yet the time has now come when God has set his hand to recover the remnant of his people. And the Spirit now is lifting up again his own standard and sign against the root of sin. See Jer. iv, 6; Isa. lix, 19; xxvi, 3; v, xci, 2; 12. And the remnant of his saints are rallying around it, and are destined to come forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners, prepared to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. The final decisive conflict will come. The dragon will make war with the remnant which keep the commandments of God and the faith or testimony of Jesus Christ. The beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies will be gathered together to make war against him that sitteth upon the horse and against his army, (that came out of the wilderness.) Though the beast and kings of the earth, and their armies, make war with the Lamb and his army, the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. And they that are with him are called and chosen, and faithful. Then he will, in his own time, SHOW WHO IS the blessed, and ONLY POTENTATE, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Thus the saints of the Most High will take the kingdom and possess the kingdom under the whole heaven, and blessed will they be, who have kept the commandments of God, and have gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name; for they will stand on the sea of glass, before the throne, with palms of victory in their hands. And on mount Zion with the Lamb, and sing the song of victory and triumph over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name. The song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Amen.
JOSHUA PHILBRICK
By Joshua Philbrick
[From Bro Philbrick.]
DEAR BRO. WHITE: Through divine providence I have received the "Review and Herald," and it continues its periodical visits. I do bless God for the great mercy he has shown me, by sending his servants with the third angel's message to my dwelling, and for the favor they have shown me by sending the "Review and Herald." O how sweet, and heavenly, are God's holy commandments. I do feel it a delight to meditate continually on the "Royal law," out of which grows all of the principles of the "pure and undefiled religion" of the Bible. Never did they look so good as now. I have endeavored to hold fast to past experience, and whereunto I have attained, "that no man take my crown." But, amid the giving up of the time as it has been written out, and a denying of the midnight cry in the past, I have been almost led to give it up myself. Yet at no time, when in private meditation, have I entirely lost the influence, and work of the tenth day of the seventh month, 1844. And while my brethren were led to give up the midnight cry in the past, I never have dared to commit myself with them with all my heart. For I did feel within my soul, that God would yet vindicate his holy truth, and justify the past movement. He has done it. Praise God, and all that is within me bless his holy name. For the third angel's message clears up the whole matter, and makes everything straight in the future. O, I feel that my poor heart is testifying to a holy work. The Sabbath, with the Advent experience draws a straight line, and I am glad that a work has begun that is going on in triumph, until the scattered remnant are brought together, and prepared to be presented before the Father, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. My wife has kept two Sabbaths with me, and my heart is made glad. We are alone in this place, but some are favorable and would no doubt have rejoiced in the truth ere this, had it not been for the influence of those who have cast away their confidence in the Advent movement. But God will take care of his people, and in his own good time will give them immortality. Yours in love, and in the blessed hope.
JOSHUA PHILBRICK
Sutton, (N. H.), Sept. 15, 1851.
[From Bro. Howland.]
By Stockbridge Howland
[From Bro. Howland.]
DEAR BRO. WHITE: I feel bad to see some Advent brethren and sisters having much visiting back and forward with the world's people. It shows a conformity to the world. I do not think we were too separate from the world in 1844; but some think we were. By their actions it would seem that they do. I want to be more and more separate from this ungodly world. I want to be more and more like the blessed Saviour. I want to be more and more separate from sin and sinners. I wish to say a little concerning parents and children. It appears to me that some of our brethren and sisters are very stupid and heedless concerning the present and future welfare of their children. I think they do not bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I never, since I started on pilgrimage, permitted my children to be deprived of what I believed to be the means of grace. I did what I thought was consecrating them to God, then talked with them by the way, and at home, and prayed for them, and with them constantly, sometimes taking one, then the other by the hand, and conducting them to my place of secret devotions. And then, and there I plead with God in their behalf. By so doing I found when I talked with them, it had an effect. I found my words had power in them, and the heart was touched. I thought much of what God said of Abraham, "I know him, that he will command his children, and his household after him." And what the wise man says "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Likewise all the promises God has made to his people concerning their children. But it appears to me, some do not understand that there is a condition to every promise. We must act our part, and that faithfully. I have spoken of my experience and labor for my children, because I feel that some have not been as faithful as they should be. But if they have not been as faithful as I have been, or more so, I do not see how they can be saved. If I slack my efforts, and think my children are safe, and lay down my agonizing prayers, I cannot expect them to be saved. But I feel every day my responsibility. It is our high privilege and duty many times in the day, to go to the throne of grace and plead with God to have mercy on our children, as ourselves. Some think little children cannot understand, or cannot feel; but with the blessing of God they can understand and feel too, when very young.
When I take little Henry with me in secret to pray I have an interesting time, and he does too, or appears to. Well, suppose he does not have a full sense of it, what of that? It does not prove that it is no use for us so to do. God sees all of our efforts and labors, and as sure as we have faith, living faith, we shall have works corresponding with it. Then when God sees we have that faith he will hear us pray for our children. But we must hold on to God with firm faith. He will not turn us away without the desired blessing. No, no, "Ask what ye will." O I want to see the little remnant come up to this part of the work in the conversion of their children. I want to see them laboring with earnestness. But some do not bring up their children at all as the Bible teaches. I have reason to fear some of the children of the brethren will not get into the kingdom.
There is a great responsibility resting on parents. They must be faithful, or I do not see how their children can be saved, or even themselves. Parents must carry a steady hand with their children. They must not lie to them. I mean, they should not make promises to them, and then break them. I hope that some of the servants of the Lord will be moved to write a pointed discourse on this subject, It must be pointed in order to reach the case.
In hope. STOCKBRIDGE HOWLAND.
Topsham, Me., Sept. 26th, 1851.
LETTERS.
By Stephen Nelson Rhodes
[From Bro. Rhodes.]
DEAR BRO. WHITE: I write a few words to let you know that I am well, (quite well for me,) and am growing stronger and stronger, and hope through the abounding grace of our blessed God, to hold on my way, though I wade through deep waters, and am torn with briars and thorns by the way. I am at times buffeted by Satan and his agents, who go everywhere to catch away the good seed from the hearts of such as are honestly seeking after a knowledge of the truth, and the true God. I thank God that the Sabbath truth is so plain and clear, that the most ordinary mind established in the Sabbath, can easily with the word of God meet and vanquish all the foes of God's Holy Law. Those carnally minded men and women, who are not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be, (as Paul has said of them, Rom. viii, 7,) after speaking much evil of the things they understand not, when they can resist the light and truth no other way, they will resort to the sensual practice of slandering the character of those servants of God, who are proclaiming the message in Rev. xiv, 9—12, speaking all manner of evil against them falsely, because they keep God's holy truth. I choose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a little season. My heart and whole soul is with you in proclaiming aloud the last thrilling truths of God's word, to prepare the host of God on earth to stand in the battle of the great day of God Almighty.
Since I parted with you in Oswego, I have visited Albion, Camden, Lorain, Oswego, Volney, Schroepel, Lincklaen, Pitcher and Elmira. I find the saints in all these places well united, speaking the same things and growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. The Lord is doing a good work for the people in Lorain and Boylston. Some precious souls whom I have loved since '43, have lately confessed the light of the Sabbath, and are now united with the few who have been in the way for some years past. The conference at Pitcher was well attended on Sabbath and first-day. We were some disappointed by not seeing our beloved Bro. Bates at this meeting, but the Lord met with us and disappointed us not of his presence and blessings. Brn. Edson and Holt attended with myself; and about thirty brethren and sisters who were not ashamed of "the law and the testimony." The testimonies of the saints to the truth were sweet and refreshing. A deeper interest in the present work of the church is being felt by all. That the blessings of the latter rain may soon refresh God's waiting saints is my earnest prayer.
S. W. RHODES.
Elmira, (N. Y.), Sept. 23, 1851.
Mark of the Beast.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
My former impression, that the mark of the beast is the counterfeit sabbath of Rome, has been strengthened of late by hearing a dealer say, that, if he should keep the Sabbath, he would beggar his family. Here we have it. No man might buy or sell save he that had the mark of the beast, or his image, or the number of his name. The mark of the beast, and the seal of the living God, will soon draw the dividing line between the servants of God, and those false and hypocritical professors of religion who will say, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works. Then will the King say to them, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity for I never knew you.
May truth prevail. Let us continue in the word of Christ, that we may know the truth, and the truth may make us free. I would not be found fighting against God, or any part of his truth. I wish to be prepared for every trial. Nothing but the truth can sanctify and prepare me. If it is the will of God to pour out his Spirit in the latter part of the last days, comparable to the latter rain, the will of the Lord be done. Let God be true.
ROSWELL F. COTTRELL.
Letters received since September 12th.
By Editor
J. Bates 2, M. L. Bauder, C. S. Fox, O. Hewett 2, H. S. Case, J. C. Bowles, Daniel Kellogg, B. Clark, S. Childs, E. L. H. Chamberlain, R. G. Whitcomb, J. F. Hammond, B. L. Smith, Sarah Henly, O. Nichols, J. Philbrick, P. M. Bates, H. S. Gurney 2, Wm. Mayhew, S. W. Rhodes 4, P. D. Lawrence, J. Kellogg, Hiram Edson 2, Wm. Gould, Lucy W. Hall, S. C. Gilbert, Harriet Davis, Lois Richmond, A. Woodruff, R. F. Cottrell, J. Loake, R. R. Chapin.
For the Pamphlet entitled 'Experience and Views.'
By Editor
Sarah Chase, $3; Geo. Cobb, $2; Mercy Curtis, M. Adderton, H. P. Stowell, $1 each.
Printing and Stereotype Establishment
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Henry’s Care and Christian Training
The kind providence of God has placed our little Henry, four years old, in Bro. Howland's family, where he is trained as we believe a child should be. With our labor and care, in traveling and in publishing, it would not be possible for us to give the child that attention that he now receives. We hope the brethren will all wake up to the present and eternal interests of their children.
Receipts.
By Editor
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