p. 191 | Review and Herald, Vol. 4, No. 24. (12/20/1853)

MARSHALL EDSON

By Marshall Edson

From Bro. Edson.

DEAR BRO. WHITE:—It has been above two years since I began to take the Review and Herald, and I can say that to me it has been meat in due season.—I believe it contains the precious truths of God's Word: the third angel's message, which is the last message of mercy to this dying world: saying, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.

When I look back upon my past life, and see the way in which God has led me, I rejoice and praise his name for his goodness, and for the light and truth that has shone on my pathway. And when I look abroad in the world, and see how it is going on in sin, and trampling on God's commandments and his holy Sabbath, and saying that some other day will do as well, or there is no Sabbath, I praise God that the breach in his law is now being made up; that the holy Sabbath has been brought to light, and that his truth has ever found way to my heart. I do delight in the law of God: it is my meditation, night and day, and Jesus says, Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

There is a great blessing pronounced upon those who keep God's holy Sabbath; (the seventh day;) and this glorious truth I believe is drawing the separating line between the righteous and the wicked: between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not. I believe that the Lord has set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people, and he will accomplish the work gloriously. I praise God that I am counted worthy to be numbered with the remnant who are keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

The time has come when we need on the whole armor; when nothing but the truth of God will enable us to stand in the great day which is just before us; and, looking for such things as are coming upon the earth, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy lives and godliness. I believe that time is very short; that Jesus' work in the Sanctuary is almost over: soon he will leave his mediatorial position, and take his seat on the great white cloud; and then, he that is filthy, will be filthy still; and he that is holy, will be holy still.

The little band here, seven in number, are still holding on to the promises of God, knowing that they are sure. We are still striving for the kingdom, amidst all the scoffs and opposition of this wicked world.—The Lord has enabled us to stand, thus far, and will if we put our trust in him. I praise God that this world is not my home; that I have got almost through with the troubles and trials of this life, and soon, if faithful, I shall come off triumphant. Yes, glory to God! we shall soon be where the wicked will cease from troubling, and the weary will be at rest.

Your brother, striving for the Kingdom,

MARSHALL EDSON

Ashfield, Mass., Dec. 7th, 1853.

Keeping the Commandments of God

By A. F. Servis

From Bro. Servis.

DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I wish to say a few words, to let you and your readers know my present position. Some time in March last, a young brother by the name of M. G. Kellogg, called at my house, and spent some time in presenting the subject of the seventh-day Sabbath. Through his instrumentality, also, I have been privileged with the reading of the Review, which has been to me, a source of great consolation. At that time, I was prejudiced against the advocates of the Bible Sabbath, as I now perceive it to be. Upon investigation, I am convinced that all the commandments of God are binding, the fourth not excepted. When first I arrived at the conclusion, from forcible evidence founded upon the word of God, that the "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God," I felt that I had sinned against the Lord Most High, in trampling under foot his Holy day. But through ignorance I did it, as the Lord knoweth.

And now may I not join the many dear saints in ascribing praise to God, in that he has brought me to see the present truth. I consider it not enough to keep the faith, or testimony of Jesus alone, but the commandments of God are inseparably connected therewith, and ought to be kept by every professor of Christ. Truly, I delight in the law of God.

Since the first of May last, I have been endeavoring to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I see a harmony in God's Word that I never before saw; especially in the first, second and third angels' messages. O what an important crisis is the present! Jesus Christ about to leave the Sanctuary, having performed the work required therein, and to appear on the white cloud! Then the last notes of mercy will have been given, and the disobedient left without excuse. O may we who are of the day, watch, and be prepared for the coming struggle.

In conclusion, I would inquire, if there is not some one, or more, who is engaged in the spread of the truth who will come this way and deliver a series of lectures this present Winter? True, this is not a very promising field of labor, yet there are some here who wish to hear concerning the present truth. Myself and wife are all who are trying to keep the Sabbath of the Bible. If any should see their way clear to come to so benighted a corner as this, they will find my place of residence in the town of Grand Blanc, seven and a half miles north-west of Goodrichville, and nine miles south from Flint, where they will be kindly entertained during their stay among us.

Yours for the truth, A. F. SERVIS. Grand Blanc, Genesee Co. Mich., Nov. 25th, 1853.

REMARKS.

By Editor

THIS Tract contains a friendly letter by E. Miller Jr., and a candid reply by R. F. Cottrell. The former thinks that Christians should not observe the Sabbath; the latter teaches that the Sabbath was "made for man" to observe in all dispensations.

The letter and the reply were both published in the REVIEW, Vol. IV, No. 10. One reason why we give them in this form for much wider circulation, is this: The Advent Harbinger for Sept. 24th, 1853, copied from the REVIEW the letter without giving the reply with it, or even stating that it had been replied to. A singular course this, we think, for that paper which has made such high professions of free investigation!

The Harbinger states (see its rules of discussion) that "it is open for the free investigation of all Bible doctrines." Then why give one side and suppress the other, as in the case of the letter and the reply? If it be said that the Sabbath is not a "Bible question," then we ask, why give one side of it? Does not common honesty say, in a case like this, Give both sides or none? The REVIEW gave both the letter and the reply, that its readers might compare them, and decide for themselves. The Harbinger gives but one side, with the following note, calculated to deceive its readers relative to the Lord's Sabbath, and prejudice them against the REVIEW and its conductors. Let the candid judge whether acts of this kind are not more worthy a Catholic Priest, than a Protestant Editor, who has for years been talking of free investigation!

"We have repeatedly published that if the advocates of the Jewish Sabbath would present one plain declaration from the Bible that Christians are required to keep that day, we would believe. By the equivocating course the conductors of the Review have taken in the matter, by asking us to produce the same kind of evidence as other subjects, they have tacitly acknowledged that the Bible does not furnish one plain declaration that it is the duty of Christians, or any body under the Gospel dispensation to keep the Jewish or Seventh-day Sabbath. We have considered their evasive offset to our unanswerable request unworthy of notice. Bro. E. Miller, Jr., however, has given the following able article in reply to their quibbles. It may subserve the cause of truth, and we therefore copy it from the Review of September 13."

In reply to this note we would say that the REVIEW teaches the weekly Sabbath mentioned in both Testaments, which is certainly binding on Christians, unless it has been abolished. The Harbinger affirms that the Sabbath has been abolished. This it should prove. The REVIEW has justly called for proof in the following request.

A REQUEST.—Those who teach that there is no Sabbath for the gospel dispensation, are requested to give us one plain text from the New Testament that teaches that the seventh-day Sabbath has been abolished. When any one will do this, we will notice it in the REVIEW.

This request has been repeated in eight or ten numbers of the REVIEW, the last four months, yet no one has presented the text or texts that declare the seventh-day Sabbath abolished.

But the Harbinger says that if the advocates of the Sabbath would "present one plain declaration from the Bible that Christians are required to keep that day, we would believe." The mocking priests said of Jesus, "Let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him." Jesus did not come down from the cross to remove their doubts; neither has the great God repeated the fourth commandment a second time in the New Testament, for fear the caviller might have a chance to cavil. Why should a second edition of the Sabbath law be given, unless the first were abolished? The request of the Harbinger is unjust. When it will prove by plain testimony the first edition of the fourth commandment abolished, then we will either show a second edition from the New Testament, or give up the Sabbath. We teach the Sabbath of the Bible. Let those who assert that it is abolished, produce one plain text to prove their assertion. This is a reasonable request. Will they produce the text?

We want none of their inferences from 2 Cor. iii; Rom. xiv; Col. ii, 14-17, which have been a hundred times repeated. They should not be allowed in a case like this. God gave the Sabbath law in the plainest language possible; and no man should be convinced that it has been abolished, unless he can find testimony as positive and plain, coming from as high authority.

Rom. xiv, does not mention the Sabbath. 2 Cor. iii, speaks of two ministrations of the law of God. That the ministration of death could be abolished, and give place to the ministration of the Spirit without affecting the law, is evident. Col. ii, 16, reads, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon or of the sabbath-days." That these sabbath-days, or sabbaths, here associated with meat, drink, holy day and the new moon, are the annual sabbaths of the Jews, associated with the same ordinances in Lev. xxiii, is perfectly plain. The text has no reference to the Sabbath of the Lord our God. But admitting that the seventh-day Sabbath is meant, then what is gained? Verily nothing; for not a word is said about its being abolished. Men may infer that the Sabbath is included in the "hand-writing of ordinances," mentioned in verse 14, or that it is referred to in verse 16; but such inferences should not be considered of the least weight in such a case as this, in the absence of plain and direct testimony.

Behold the display of Divine Power at the giving of the ten commandments. The smoke ascended from Mount Sinai as the smoke of a great furnace; the lightnings flashed, and the thunders of Jehovah rolled down its base. God had descended upon it in awful grandeur, to speak in the ears of all the people the ten precepts of his holy law. These precepts were of such a character, of such vast importance, that the great Law-giver did not leave them for man to write; but with his finger engraved them in tables of stone. Behold them placed in the beautiful ark, overlaid and inlaid with the purest gold. Mark well the victories won by Israel, when with the ark of God they crossed Jordan, marched around Jericho, and went forth to battle. See the ark put in the Most Holy of the earthly Sanctuary. It was the center of their religious system, it was the glory of Israel. The fourth commandment was in that ark; and for its violation the greatest curses are pronounced by the prophets; and for the observance of the Sabbath, the greatest blessings are promised. And how preposterous the supposition that the Almighty, through his Son Jesus Christ, should abolish his Sabbath, without giving one plain testimony to the fact in the Book of Inspiration. And how awfully presumptuous for men to go on in violation of the fourth commandment, and risk their eternal salvation upon mere inferences!! May God help the reader to feel the force of the truth we are here stating.

And we should not expect that such a momentous event as the abrogation of God's law, or even the Sabbath precept, would take place without being foretold by the prophets. God by the prophets has not only revealed the great events connected with his people, or in which his people have a special interest, but has by them pointed out those events which are more minute.

Now, if the Lord's Sabbath has been abolished, where have the prophets foretold the event? "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos iii, 7. As none of the prophets have foretold the abolition of the Sabbath, and as none of the apostles have recorded such an event, we are certain that no such event ever occurred.

To trample underfoot the fourth commandment because it is not given a second time in the New Testament, and to teach its abolition, with nothing but unwarrantable inferences from a few texts that do not mention the Sabbath of the Lord, is the height of presumption.

Standing Firm Despite Persecution

By Joseph Jackson

From Bro. Jackson.

DEAR BRO. WHITE:—We are still striving for the kingdom. We are trying to get the victory over every wrong word and action, and live pure and holy; for without holiness no man shall see the Lord. We feel that we are traveling onward, and if faithful a little longer, we shall reach the prize. We are comforted every week in reading the excellent articles, and cheering letters in the Review.

The two-horned beast is getting angry here. They threaten to put us in jail for working on First-day. Shall we regard the institution of the beast? No we will not. We will keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Praise the Lord, we do not fear what man can do unto us. We are willing to suffer in jail, or any where that the Lord sees fit, if we can but enter the Holy City.

Yours waiting for eternal life, JOSEPH JACKSON. Corrunna, Mich., Nov. 22d, 1853.

W. PHELPS

By W. Phelps

From Bro. Phelps.

DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I have just returned from a visit among the brethren at Oak Hill and vicinity, where we had a time long to be remembered on account of the presence of the Lord. While I have met with them two Sabbaths in succession, the saving power of God has been made manifest. While the saints rejoiced, sinners trembled and wept aloud. Ten more in that neighborhood have become dead to the law, buried with Christ into death, and hope to be in the likeness of his resurrection. They number now about thirty in that place, and are all strong in the truth giving glory to God. The third angel's message is gradually rising in many places. O for an entire consecration of all we have to God, while our great High Priest is making the atonement in the Most Holy Place. I mean by the grace of God, to go through, and see the inside of that glorious City.

W. PHELPS

Fort Atkinson, Wis., Nov. 23d, 1853.

NEW WORKS.

By Editor

A WORD FOR THE SABBATH, OR FALSE THEORIES EXPOSED.—This is the title of a small work—a poem—by Uriah Smith. It has been published in the REVIEW, and is now ready for distribution. Price 6 cents.

BOTH SIDES.—This is the title of a Tract of 16 pages, just issued. It contains the Letter by E. Miller, Jr., and the Reply by R. F. Cottrell, which was published in No. 10; also remarks given below, and the excellent poetry entitled, "It's Jewish."—We can furnish this Tract and pay the postage, in packages not less than 32 copies, for one cent a copy. It can be sent in packages with other Tracts of the same number of pages noticed in the last REVIEW.

Brethren, let this little work be put into the hands of the readers of the Harbinger, that they may see Both Sides. It is a choice thing to hand out to those who may have fallen into the no-Sabbath heresy.

If any who have not the means can distribute this Tract to advantage, we will send packages free, and pay the postage. Let it be circulated.

The type will not be distributed for a week or more. Send in your orders, that we may know how many to print.

To Correspondents.

By Editor

IN writing to this Office, let everything of a business nature be put on a part of the sheet by itself, or on a separate sheet, so as not to be mixed up with other matters.
Be careful to write all names of persons and places, plainly and distinctly.
In all cases give the name of the Post Office, County and State. When a Town or Village is called by one name, and the Post Office by another, be sure to give the name of the Post Office.
When the direction of a paper is to be changed, do not forget to name the Office to which it has been sent.
Let everything be stated explicitly, and in as few words as will express the writer's meaning.
In writing texts of scripture, be sure to copy from the Bible correctly. It is no small sin to carelessly mangle the Word of God, as some do.

If the above directions are complied with, we shall be saved much time and perplexity, and be less liable to mistakes in transacting the business of the Office.

P. MILLER JR.—The letter and the enclosed is received. All right. The Tract will be out soon.

Letters.

E. Goodwin, H. B. Simmons, E. A. Hastings, D. Davis, T. M. Steward, H. N. Stevens, H. C. Crumb, R. F. Cottrell, J. N. Andrews.

Receipts.

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