Positive Institutions

GOD’S ANSWER To Man’s Excuses for not Keeping His Sabbath

1. It is inconvenient to keep the seventh, day. Matthew 16:24. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Chap. 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27. POI 15.1

2. I have a family to support; it will interfere with my business. Matthew 16:25, 26. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Chap. 6:24, 31-33; Luke 12:15-37; 1 Timothy 4:8; Psalm 37:3; Isaiah 65:13, 14. POI 15.2

3. Everybody keeps the first day. Matthew 7:13, 14. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Proverbs 11:21; 16:5. POI 15.3

4. Many learned men teach that it is right. Hosea 10:13. “Ye have ploughed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty, men.” 1 Corinthians 1:25-27; Revelation 18:23. POI 15.4

5. We are unlearned and must look to them for instruction. Proverbs 19:27. “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7. POI 15.5

6. The laws of our country enforce it. Acts 4:19. “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” Chap. 5:29; Daniel 3:16-18; 6:10. POI 15.6

7. It causes trouble and division. Luke 12:51, 52. “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.” Verse 49; Matthew 10:34-37; John 15:19; John 17:14; 1 Kings 18:17, 18. POI 15.7

8. I should lose my influence and bring reproach. Matthew 5:11, 12. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revise you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets, which were before you.” Luke 6:22, 23, 26; 1 John 4:5. POI 16.1

9. It, makes no difference what day I keep if I keep it right. Exodus 20:9, 10. “Six days shall, thou labor and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.” Matthew 15:3, 9. To keep any day right is to keep it as God’s law directs; otherwise his law is not right. To keep every day right is to work on the first six and rest the seventh. POI 16.2

10. I am afraid of new doctrines. Exodus 20:11. “In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and till that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Genesis 2:2, 3. POI 16.3

11. I do not think these old laws are binding. Jeremiah 6:16. “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the “ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Chap. 18:15. POI 16.4

12. The apostle Leaches that old things are passed away. 2 Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new Creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The “old man” of sin must pass away. Then the man becomes new-not the law. POI 16.5

“The word of the Lord endureth forever.”
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
Battle Creek, Mich.
Price, post-paid, $2,00 per 100. Address Elder James White. POI 16.6