The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 76

20/52

May 16, 1899

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 20, p. 312.

JESUS said that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.1

Notice that this about the love waxing cold, applies not to the wicked world, but to the professed people of God. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.2

The wicked world do not love the Lord or his ways; they do not profess to. These, therefore, have no love to grow cold. But Christians, church-members, do profess to love the Lord and his ways; these, therefore, are the only ones whose love can grow cold. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.3

But Christianity is righteousness. The love of Christians is the love of righteousness,—perfect righteousness,—even the righteousness of God, and this “by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.” Only this is Christianity. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.4

Isn’t it strange, then, that because iniquity abounds, love grows cold in many of those whose profession is that they love only righteousness? Are iniquity and righteousness so close together, so much of the like substance, that the growth of the one naturally draws from the other?—No; nothing can be farther apart than righteousness and iniquity. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.5

How can it be, then, why is it that the love of righteousness grows cold in those who profess it, only because iniquity abounds?—Ah! the real secret of that is that though they profess to love only righteousness, and really do love righteousness in a measure, yet, after all, there is a lingering sympathy with iniquity; there is some personal pleasure loved, some individual indulgence cherished, so that consecration is not clear-cut and complete. And as certainly as there is in any heart the slightest root of sin that is spared, iniquity in some phase will find countenance; and the root will grow, and will choke out the love of righteousness, simply because that love is not complete and sincere. Iniquity was allowed in that heart. As certainly as it was allowed, it abounded; and as certainly as it abounded, the love of righteousness grew cold. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.6

But all in whom the love of righteousness is sincere, all in whom the consecration is complete, will not be at all affected by the abundance of iniquity—unless it be to make them more zealous in the love of righteousness. When Noah saw the earth filling with violence, iniquity abounding, he “walked with God:” the Hebrew word is an intensive. He determined, he set himself, to walk with God. And as iniquity grew more rife all around him, he grew stronger in God. The iniquity was all outside of him, and only the love of righteousness was within; then, though iniquity so abounded as to destroy the earth by the flood, Noah’s love also so abounded as to overcome all, and be saved from the flood. And “as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Thank the Lord. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.7

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 20, p. 312.

LAYING its strictures on the United States attorney-general’s interpretation, which set aside a plain law of the United States prohibiting the sale of intoxicating drinks at army post, the Christian Work says that in the law “there is no doubtful phrasing; the language is as plain as that of any commandment in the decalogue. Yet in the face of this fact the Secretary of War, as if determined not to enforce the law, flies for refuge to the attorney-general, and the latter interprets the law in the very opposite sense of its explicit declaration.” Yes, the language of that law is as plain as that of any commandment of the decalogue; and it has been interpreted in a sense its very opposite to the plain declaration; but does not the Christian Work know well that that is exactly what is done all over this land with the fourth commandment of the decalogue, by the preachers who are supposed to be the expounders of the divine law? The divine law, plainly written in the decalogue, says, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God;” yet by the professed ministers of Christ and of God that law is interpreted in a sense the very opposite to that of the explicit declaration, and so made to mean that the first day is the sabbath. The Christian Work says that the action of the attorney-general is “indefensible and shocking.” True; and by the same token, what is the conduct of the ministers? ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.1

“Editorial Notes” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 20, p. 312.

THE Christian Work touches the point in things to-day, and truly touches the point, when it says: “We indulge in no ad captandum criticism of the church; but it is the simple truth, and a very painful one, that the church is neglecting the family.... We lament the absence of a revival. We mourn over what is called ‘the decline of piety,’ and we ascribe it to the Sunday newspapers, to cheap, worthless literature, to the Sunday bicycle, to the theater, to dancing, to the rage for excessive amusement: It never occurs to some to trace the effectiveness of these agencies of deterioration to their one efficient cause,—the decadence of the family and the home life.” Thank the Lord that he is calling the attention of his people to the home life; and may every one heartily co-operate with Sister Henry in the work which the Lord has given her to do in behalf of the home. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.1

“Present Truth” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 20, p. 312.

THE spirit of imperialism is fast growing and strengthening in these United States of America and Asia. Accordingly, “treason” is promptly attributed now to those who cite the principles of the Declaration of Independence. Still, in spite of this from the apparently overwhelming majority, there are a good many persons who continue to cite those principles. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.1

This question, however, has not yet become a matter of politics. But it is almost certain that next year, in the presidential campaign, it will be one of the most important of the matters of politics. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.2

Now this very question of imperialism—the question of the United States’ maintaining or abandoning the principles of the Declaration—is an important matter to every Seventh-day Adventist: not as a matter of politics; for true Seventh-day Adventists have nothing at all to do with politics; but as a matter of prophecy, as a matter pertaining to our message to the world. And it becomes a very important matter for consideration by every one who would be a true Seventh-day Adventist, to know how, in giving the message of God in faithfulness, he can do this, and at the same time keep clear of politics; and this especially when that question becomes one of the chief points in the political issues of a national campaign. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.3

Yet important though this matter be, there need be no difficulty about it, provided we make good and proper use of the time and opportunities given us before the question becomes distinctly a political issue. By not making the proper and timely use of the truth and opportunities given by the Lord more than a year before the latest national campaign, one of the greatest occasions that was ever offered to this people for exalting and spreading the principles of the third angel’s message was utterly lost. Instead of being ready and well-equipped with the principles of the message of the Lord, and instead of seizing and using for all that it was worth, that national occasion to proclaim the message; scores of our people let all this slip, and then actually entered into party politics, and grabbed up issues that were wholly political, and that had no connection whatever with the message and work given to this people for the world. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.4

Shall this be repeated? Shall another such great occasion be wholly lost, when next the whole nation is stirred? It is not true that the year of a national campaign is unfavorable for our work, because people’s minds are so occupied. Instead of being unfavorable for our work, it offers the grandest of opportunities, if only our people are prepared to seize the true key-points in the public attention, and to open up to the minds of men the real questions of importance involved, as shown in the Scriptures of truth and proclaimed in the third angel’s message. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.5

Seventh-day Adventists all profess to believe in the United States in prophecy. Indeed, this is one of the principal things that causes people to be Seventh-day Adventists. The United States in prophecy in the book of Revelation is the source of this faith. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.6

In that prophecy,—Revelation 13:11-18,—there was seen “another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb.” We have always said, and it is the truth, that these two horns represent the two great principles that from the beginning characterized this nation; namely, Protestantism and republicanism. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.7

Then this beast, in spite of these lamblike principles, speaks “as a dragon,” and becomes oppressive, cruel, and persecuting. This shows apostasy from the principles which at first are the characteristics of the nation. For several years we said much, never half enough, about the apostasy of the nation from its fundamental principle of Protestantism. But very little has been said about the apostasy of the nation from its fundamental principle of republicanism. Yet this is a truth, as really as is the other. And now, JUST NOW, the fact pointed out in that truth is being worked out before the eyes of all people: and for months past it has been so. This apostasy is going steadily on in the presence of all. All people are in, and are discussing daily, the national movements that mark this apostasy. But how many of them see it in the word of God? How many of them see it in the prophecy? How many of them know that there is any word of God in prophecy on the subject? Yea, how many Seventh-day Adventists are telling them of this, and showing them the word of the prophecy? ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.8

Yet Seventh-day Adventists are here for that very purpose. Seventh-day Adventists profess to know these things: our very profession proclaims that we know these things. Are you telling the people? Are you pointing out to them the true significance of the things which they all see passing as the days go by? ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.9

If not, why? Is it possible that you yourself—a Seventh-day Adventist—do not know this? Is it possible that you yourself do not see in the word of the God the prophecy which points out this apostasy from the principle of republicanism in this nation? And are you thus letting pass by, to be lost forever, this great time and mighty opportunity to deliver the message which God has given to you for just such a time as this, and which is the very substance of your name and profession as a Seventh-day Adventist? ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.10

The national apostasy from the principle of Protestantism is revealed in the prophecy in the book of Revelation. But the apostasy from the principle of republicanism as such is not revealed in Revelation; this is in the book of Daniel. Have you found it there? Do you see it there? Can you show it there, to other people? Are you studying the books of Daniel AND Revelation on this present truth? It is high time to awake out of sleep. The time is important. Get ready, get ready, get ready. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.11

“Expansion” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 20, pp. 312, 313.

HOW wild men are getting on the subject of the expansion of the United States is well illustrated in a speech made by United States Senator Frye, of Maine, in New York City, April 27, 1899. He declared that in expansion “our especial field will be the Orient, and particularly the Philippines, the most fertile and productive land under the sun.” ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.1

Now just about how much room there is in the Philippines for the expansion of the United States can be estimated from the fact that in the whole field of the Philippines there is less than two thirds as much land as there is in the State of Texas; and that land has already a population of seventy to the square mile, while Texas has less than ten to the square mile, while even the whole United States has but twenty to the square mile. In other words, there is one third more area in Texas than in the Philippines; and there is six times as much space in Texas as there is in the Philippines; so that there is six times as much space for the expansion of the United States in the State of Texas as there is in the Philippines. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 312.2

Yet even the Philippines, though the “most fertile and productive land under the sun,” is not sufficient to satisfy the expansive imagination of the senator. Nothing short of heaven meets the requirement. And the United States is expanded into heaven itself in the following style: “The advantages to be derived by us commercially will compensate us a hundredfold for all the cost; while the war waged for humanity’s sake will, if we are faithful, lay up for the republic treasures in haven.” ARSH May 16, 1899, page 314.1

With the politicians carrying the republic into heaven, and the National Reformers bringing the kingdom of God into the republic, surely it can not be very long before the image of the papacy shall stand forth here in full, living, acting size. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 314.2

“Should Not Christians Keep the Sabbath?” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 20, p. 313.

THE third angel’s message is prospering in Chicago. Its work is becoming specially impressive. This we know from the fact that it has become necessary for the head of the Moody training-school there to make special efforts to counteract it. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.1

Mr. R. A. Torrey is, and has long been, the head instructor and manager of the Moody school. This school is devoted especially to the training of Christian workers. Lately Mr. Torrey has become considerably stirred up, and has launched out about as strongly as he knows how, it would seem, against the Sabbath of the Lord and the Seventh-day Adventists. What he had to say has been printed in a little forty-five-age pamphlet, published by the Revell Company, of Chicago, and is being distributed quite freely there. The title of it is “Ought Christians to Keep the Sabbath?” ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.2

Two copies of this pamphlet have been sent to this Office; and in consideration of the circumstances, and the standing of the author of the tract, we shall take pleasure in giving some attention to it. This we do in the hope that what we shall say may reach friend Torrey, and help him to understand some things better than he does now; for we feel sure that if he understood some things better than he does, he would never have said some things that he has said. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.3

He begins his pamphlet by saying:— ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.4

Before reading this tract upon one of the burning questions of the day, the reader is earnestly requested to go to God in prayer, and covenant with him that he will take his stand upon what the word of God teaches, whether it may agree with is previous notions or not. Let us, at all cost, be true to the word of God. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.5

We willingly comply with this request; and as we follow along, bringing to the test of the Bible the statements that Mr. Torrey has made, we hope that he will stick to his proposition. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.6

The first important statement that we find is the one that is quite common with those who speak or write with the purpose that Mr. Torrey does; namely, to prove that the Sabbath has been changed fro the seventh day to the first day of the week. Mr. Torrey puts it thus, at the end of his second paragraph:— ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.7

The Son of Man—Jesus Christ—is Lord even of the Sabbath, and therefore has authority to modify it, change it, or abrogate it, as he will. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.8

Now, admitting, for the occasion, that the Lord has authority to do all this, in this case the claim is good for nothing unless the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week. And right there the claim falls utterly; that is to say, the claim fails in the very thing in behalf of which the claim is made; for in very truth the Lord could not change the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week. This for the reason that it is not a question of authority or power, but of principle. And Christ being God, he can not disregard principle: it is impossible for God to lie; he can not contradict himself. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.9

Let us examine, then, upon principle, this claim so lightly, and with such superiority, made as to a change of the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.10

Sabbath means “rest.” The Sabbath day is the rest day; and “God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” Hebrews 4:4. As, therefore, the seventh day is the day upon which God rested, that is the only day that can be the rest day. God rested no other day of the week; therefore no other day of the week can be the rest day. And so long as it remains a fact that “God did rest the seventh day from all his works,” so long will it be the truth that the seventh day is the Sabbath. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.11

This discovers the utter absurdity of the idea that the Sabbath has been changed. To speak of a real change of the Sabbath, is but to say that the rest of God has been changed from the day upon which he rested to one upon which he did not rest. In other words, it is to say that the Lord rested upon a day upon which he did not rest. But that it is impossible for even the Lord to do; for to call that a rest day upon which he worked would not be the truth, and it is “impossible for God to lie. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.12

The seventh day, the Sabbath of the Lord, rests upon facts; and it is impossible to change facts. Fact is from factum—that which is done. When a thing has been done, it will remain a fact to all eternity. To all eternity it will remain the truth that it was done. It may be undone, yet the fact remains that it was done. No power in the universe can change a fact. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.13

It is a fact that in six days God created the heavens and the earth, and all things that are therein. This can never cease to be a fact. This earth might be relegated again to chaos, yet the fact would remain that in six days God did create it. It would likewise remain a fact that the Lord worked each of the six days. And as long as this world stands, which was created in those six days, so long will it remain impossible truthfully to call any of these six days the Sabbath; that is, the rest day; because there stands the fact that the Lord worked all of those six days; and, we repeat, he himself can not call that a rest day in which he worked. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.14

It is likewise a fact that “God did rest the seventh day.” That can never cease to be the truth. Though the whole creation which God created should be blotted out, it would still remain the fact—that which was done—that God did rest the seventh day. And as long as the creation stands, so long the truth stands that the seventh day is the rest day, the Sabbath, of the Creator, and that none other can be. Therefore it is the simple, plain, demonstrated truth that the seventh day of the week, and that day only of all in the week, is the Sabbath of the Lord; and that while creation stands, it CAN NOT BE CHANGED. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.15

There is, however, a way, and only one conceivable way, in which the Sabbath could be changed; that is, as suggested by Alexander Campbell, by creation being gone through with again. Let us take Mr. Campbell’s conception, and suppose that creation is to be gone through with again, for the purpose of changing the Sabbath; and suppose that the present creation is turned once more to chaos. In creating again, the Lord could of course employ as many, or as few, days as he should please, according to the day which he designed to make the Sabbath. If he should employ nine days in the work of creation, and rest the tenth day, then the tenth day would be of course the rest day—the Sabbath. Or, if he should employ eight days or seven days in creation, and rest the ninth or eighth, as the case might be, that day would be the rest day—the Sabbath. Or he might employ five days in creation, and rest the sixth, then the sixth day would be the Sabbath; or employ four days, and rest the fifth; or three days, and rest the fourth; or two days, and rest the third; or one day, and rest the second. Then the fifth, the fourth, the third, or the second day, as the case might be, would be the Sabbath. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.16

But suppose it should be designed to make the first day the Sabbath. Could it be done?—Not possibly. For suppose all things were created in one day: the day on which creation was performed would necessarily, and of itself, be the first day: therefore the rest day, the Sabbath, could not possibly be earlier than the second day. The first day could not possibly be both a working day and a rest day. It matters not though only a portion of the day should be employed in the work, it would effectually destroy the possibility of its being a rest day. So upon the hypothesis of a new creation, and upon that hypothesis alone, it is conceivable that the Sabbath, the rest day, could be changed; but even upon that hypothesis, it would be literally IMPOSSIBLE to change the Sabbath, the rest day, from the seventh day to the first day. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.17

People will talk and write glibly about “the change of the Sabbath,” never pausing to consider what is involved in the idea; never considering that heaven and earth would have to be removed before such a thing could be done; even as Christ said, “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail;” and, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.” ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.18

In the prophecy which foretold the attempt of “the man of sin” to change the Sabbath, the rest day, the word is not that he should change the law, but that he should “think to change times and laws” of the Most High. This might be expected of the power that would oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4); and it is perfectly in keeping with his character that in his thought to change the Sabbath of the Lord, he should select the very day—the first day—to which, above all others, it would be impossible for even the Lord himself to change the Sabbath. ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.19

And the Sabbath—the rest—of the Lord, having been, with creation, established by the Lord; and having been commanded by the Lord in a law of which one tittle can not fail as easily as heaven and earth can pass away; then, so long as Christians propose to respect the institutions of the Lord, and profess to conform to his will, ought NOT Christians to keep the Sabbath? ARSH May 16, 1899, page 313.20