[Sabbath Controversy #3] A Vindication of the Seventh-day Sabbath, and the Commandments of God

UNDER THE GOSPEL

Christ, the Son of God, and his Disciples, kept the same Sabbath - (it is folly to speak of any other; the Scriptures forbid it.) He was the Lord of the Sabbath, and he said it “was made for man.” - Mark 2:27, 28 For what man? -[See article, 2nd Pillar.] He says he kept his Father’s commandments. Paul says they are holy, just and good. John says, they are from the beginning, and points a company who are now keeping them. James tells us we are to keep the whole - surely the Sabbath is here; God himself, says it is. - Exodus 16:27, 28, and 20:8-11 SC3 196.2

Jesus, then, is our example. Surely we shall not err if we follow him. Respecting working, cooking, making fires, etc.etc., please see my reply to Barnabas. Jesus always preached on the Sabbath, and healed, and wrought miracles, and blessed his honest followers. And I know for one that he blesses them still, who worship on that day; see Mark 6:16, 31, he asked “if it was lawful to do well on the Sabbath days?” If we can do good in like manner, we shall be perfectly safe; if better, try it. Just read in the following passages, how and what he did. His being judged by primitive and modern professors, is no rule for us, “What is that to thee, follow thou me.” - Matthew 12:1-15 he shows that his disciples were “guiltless for eating,” 7th v. They were soon into their meeting; see, he’s at work immediately, 13th v.; see Luke 13:11-17, healing the woman; how withering his reply to his enemies, 14th v. I would that his adversaries were as much ashamed now, 17th v. See 14. chapter, 1-6, and 7-14; here he went in to eat bread on the Sabbath day; 1st v., here he cures the dropsy and teaches them how to treat the poor, etc. See also John 5:1-20, and 7:21-24, he shows that all of this is not (servile work) but works of mercy and necessity. He even instructed his disciples, Jew and Gentile, respecting the sanctity of THE Sabbath, thirty-six years after his death, Matthew 24:20 In chapter 5, he shows that the keeping of the law, etc., will make us great in the kingdom of heaven, 17-19 Then in 38-48 verses, shows us that under the Gospel, we are to follow his teachings and that we are now about to make the change from the ministration of Moses to that of his own, in the Gospel. Do see how John puts it together, Revelation 12:17; 14:12, explained to be the spirit of prophecy, in 19:10 Now every law with respect to the keeping the commandments and of course the Sabbath, is embraced in the testimony of Jesus. The special messenger of the Lord to the Gentiles, to teach them the abolition of Moses’s ministration in the law, observed the Sabbath in obedience to his master; see Acts 17:2; 13:42-44, preaching to the Gentiles, 42 v.; 16:13, by the water side; 18:4, every Sabbath; 11 v. seventy-eight in succession. Luke records these, many years after the law of Moses was abolished. John had his vision on the Lord’s day. Jesus never claimed any day for his, but the seventh-day Sabbath, Mark 2:28; neither did his Father, Exodus 20:10 Therefore, in following the authority and example of God, Jesus Christ, and the holy Apostles, we shall meet our glorious king with clear consciences. We never need to fear to keeping the holy and sanctified Sabbath day too strict. We cannot keep it holy, nor acceptable, if we employ men or beasts to labor for us on that day, neither printers, postmasters, nor carriers. The day is not ours, it is the Lord’s: follow the Scripture rule, and the Sabbath will be a delight to us, and God will sanctify and save. SC3 196.3