The Signs of the Times, vol. 13

April 21, 1887

“Sunday Laws in Tennessee” The Signs of the Times, 13, 16.

E. J. Waggoner

As some of our readers may wish to know more about the defeat in the Tennessee Legislature, of the bill exempting conscientious observers of the seventh day, from certain provisions of the Sunday law, we submit a few facts gleaned from a recent letter from one of our brethren in that State:- SITI April 21, 1887, page 245.1

Senator Green, who only a few days before had made a speech against a bill which provided that railroad trains should not be allowed to run after 8 o’clock A.M. on Sunday, was asked to support the exemption bill, but refused, saying:- SITI April 21, 1887, page 245.2

“I think the majority should rule in regard to the Sabbath.” He also said of the bill pending in the Senate: “Should it pass, it would be a prolific and continual source of disturbance, for there would be in the same towns or neighborhoods some assembled on Sunday worshiping God, while just outside in the fields others would be plowing or doing other labor, and it could not but greatly disturb the consciences of the worships.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 245.3

Mr. Green was then reminded of his speech of a few days previous, and he was asked to reconcile his opposition to the bill exempting Sabbath-keepers from the provisions of the Sunday law with his plea in favor of Sunday railroading. To this he replied:- SITI April 21, 1887, page 245.4

“I am a stock-dealer, and know that should a train load of cattle be side-tracked all day Sunday the stock would suffer for food and water.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 245.5

The brethren then appealed to him in behalf of their families, stating that their conscientious convictions compelled them to keep the seventh day, and that if they were compelled by law to keep Sunday also, their families must suffer, for they could not support them properly on the proceeds of five days labor. “Now,” said they to the Senator, “is it more important that your cattle have relief, than that our families should have similar relief? All we ask is that we be allowed to work on Sunday for the support of our families, just as you allow the railroads to work for the relief of the cattle.” But their appeal fell on ears deaf to everything but self-interest, and the only reply was, “You can labor six days now if you will do it when other Christians do;” adding that he was in favor of the rights of conscience! Which evidently meant that he was in favor of very man enjoying liberty of conscience, always provided, however, that his conscience was just like the Senator’s conscience-a little elastic when powerful corporations and rich stock-dealers are concerned, but very rigid when only the just and natural rights of a conscientious Sabbath-keepers are at stake. SITI April 21, 1887, page 245.6

The chaplain of the Senate, Rev. Dr. Barbee, used his influence against the bill, urging that everybody ought to keep Sunday, because it is the law of the land, and the custom of the church. He thought that no one should set up his conscience against the law and custom. Such were some of the sophistries which were potent for the defeat of a bill granting religious liberty in Tennessee. SITI April 21, 1887, page 245.7

“The Unpardonable Sin. (Concluded.)” The Signs of the Times, 13, 16.

E. J. Waggoner

The same thing is brought to view in Hebrews 10:26-29: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.1

Here we have presumptuous sin. The case recorded in Numbers 15 is in point. The Lord had said that the soul which should do aught presumptuously, should be cut off, because he had “despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment.” Verse 30, 31. Then follows an instance of such a sin. A man went out to gather sticks on the Sabbath-day. He was not driven to do this by want, but he did it in willful violation of the commandment of the Lord, that everyone should abide in his place. He presumed on the mercy of the Lord. He knew the commandment, yet he deliberately tried the Lord, to see if he meant what he said. He found out to his cost that the Lord meant just what he said. He found out that the Lord cannot be trifled with. That was a case of willful sin, after having received the knowledge of the truth. It was not simply the fact that the man violated a commandment, for every error is a violation of some commandment, but the man violated the commandment deliberately and intentionally, knowing that his act was a violation of the commandment. In other words, he “despised the word of the Lord.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.2

Now, says Paul, if a man who deliberately violated a commandment had to die without mercy, and could have no atonement made for his sin, how much worse off must the man be who not only violates the commandments (for all have sinned), but who deliberately rejects the only means by which an atonement for sins can be made. Certainly his case is doubly hopeless. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.3

Sinning against light always brings darkness. This is a self-evident truth. If a man rejects light, nothing but darkness remains. So our Saviour says to us, as ... to the Jews: “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” John 12:35. And in like manner Paul says that Satan will, just before the coming of the Lord, work “with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. It will be just as it was with the heathen. Because when they knew God they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, therefore God gave them up to uncleanness; and “even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, and God gave them over to a mind void of judgment.” See Romans 1:27-28, margin. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.4

Thus when one knows what is right, and deliberately chooses error, he soon loses the knowledge of what is right; it soon becomes impossible for sacred things to make any impression upon him; and if he does not know the right way, of course he cannot follow it. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.5

The same idea that we have found in the two passages quoted from the book of Hebrews, is carried out in Hebrews 12:15-17, which reads thus: “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.6

In Genesis 25:29-34 we find an account of the transaction to which the apostle refers. Esau bartered away his birthright for a mess of pottage. It was a deliberate transaction, and when the bargain was concluded it could not be altered. If a man makes a deliberate bargain, and sells a piece of property, he cannot back out. Esau sold his birthright for a paltry meal of victuals, thus showing that he despised, or did not appreciate, his birthright. Afterward he would have inherited a blessing, but he had sold it, and could not. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.7

Thousands of men have repeated Esau’s course. Paul says of one of his co-laborers: “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.” 2 Timothy 4:10. Here we have the case of Esau repeated. Esau sold his birthright, to satisfy a present need; Demas sold his interest in the cause of God and in eternal life, for this present world. Thousands of people acknowledge their duty to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, yet say, “If I should keep the Sabbath I couldn’t make a living,” and so for a mess of pottage,-a few meals of victuals,-they sell their heavenly inheritance. We have known people who felt that they couldn’t make a living if they kept the Sabbath, and who made up their minds that when they had secured a competency they would obey; but they never obeyed; they never afterwards could find a convenient time, and although they gained a competency, they never again could feel any special interest in the Sabbath. They had disbelieved God, and showed that they thought more of present enjoyment than of the enduring riches, and God gave them that which they prized most. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.8

It is not necessary to pursue this subject further. Let the reader note that we have found at least four ways in which men may commit the unpardonable sin: 1. By deliberately attributing the work of the Spirit of God to the devil. 2. By refusing to yield to the strivings of the Spirit, until by continual sinning the heart becomes so hard that the Spirit can make no impression upon it, and a sense of sin is lost. Then it is said, “Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.” 3. By falling from the grace of God, and deliberately rejecting Christ’s sacrifice. 4. By presuming upon God’s mercy, and deliberately transgressing his commandments, with our eyes open to the consequences, and a determination to see if God will bring them upon us. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.9

Many people who have thought themselves guilty of the unpardonable sin, were not. For the encouragement of such we write. The man whose heart is broken at the thought of his sin against God, and who is tender and repentant, may find pardon, for “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;” a broken and a contrite heart the Lord will not despise. Psalm 51:17. Although a man’s sense of his sins may be so great that they seem to him unpardonable, he may rest assured that where sin abounds (that is, a sense of sin), grace does much more abound. Romans 5:20. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.10

But it is also true that thousands are in danger of the unpardonable sin, who think themselves secure, and for the warning of such we also write. The man who thinks that he may indulge just once more in some known sin which is very dear to him, may find that that was just once too often for pardon. No one can tell how weary the Spirit may be of striving with him, or how near he may be to the close of probation. Many men who were “going to reform,” never did reform, because death came before they had gotten ready to reform. So there will doubtless be many well-intentioned persons lost, because they will weary the Spirit with their lukewarm dilatoriness, and probation will close before they have made up their minds to be wholly on the Lord’s side. When it is too late, they will arouse, and will seek for the word of the Lord, but will not able to find it. Amos 8:11, 12. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.11

It is dangerous to sin at all. Our only hope of safety from falling into the unpardonable sin is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.12

“To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” W. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.13

“Present and Future Probation” The Signs of the Times, 13, 16.

E. J. Waggoner

In our comment on Matthew 12:31, 32 in last week’s SIGNS, we had designed to make a few remarks upon the last clause of the passage, but we could not do so without too much of a diversion from the subject under consideration. The part referred to reads thus: “But whosoever speaketh against against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” This especially of late years has been perverted to the support of a rapidly-growing theory which is subversive of the very foundation principles of the gospel of Christ. We refer to the theory of a probation after death. It is claimed that the clause, “it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come,” teaches a probation after death; “for,” say the advocates of this theory, “Christ would not say that a certain sin shall not be forgiven in the world to come, unless it is possible for some sins to be then forgiven.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.14

So far as the passage in question is concerned, this matter may quickly be settled. The same thing is recorded by two other evangelists, and these parallel passages must determine the meaning of the expression in Matthew. Mark recorded it thus: “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.” Mark 3:29. The words “hath never forgiveness,” express the meaning exactly. Someone may say that this does not disprove the theory of future probation; but the clause, “is in danger of eternal damnation,” when rightly understood, shows that no thought of future probation is connected with the text. For all sin there is condemnation; whoever sins is condemned already. But this condemnation may not be lasting; if the guilty one accepts Christ, his condemnation may come to an end; for there is “no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” If, however, the sinner has committed the sin against the Holy Spirit, his condemnation is eternal; from it there is no possibility of escape. This is all that can be found in the text. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.15

In further proof of this, we have the simple statement made by Luke. He says, “But unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him.” Luke 12:10. This is just what the Saviour meant and all that he meant. He made an emphatic statement that the sin against the Holy Ghost should have no forgiveness; any attempt to make more out of his words is adding to the words of Inspiration. “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:6. SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.16

There are just two other texts in the Bible, which are quoted to uphold the future probation theory. These are 1 Peter 3:18-20; 4:6. These texts should receive careful consideration, especially the first, for, as perverted, it is made the foundation of many unscriptural theories. We will quote the text in full:- SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.17

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 246.18

The simplest way to show what the text does not mean, is to show what it does mean. This we may do by a series of questions which will enable the reader himself to explain its meaning. Thus:- SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.1

1. Who once suffered? Answer—“Christ also hath once suffered.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.2

2. For what did Christ suffer? Ans-“For sins.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.3

3. Why did he thus suffer? Ans.-“That he might bring us to God.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.4

4. How did he suffer? Ans.-“Being put to death in the flesh.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.5

5. By what was he quickened, or made alive? Ans.-“Quickened [made alive] by the Spirit.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.6

6. What else did he do by the Spirit? Ans.-“He went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.7

7. Why were they in prison? Ans.-They “sometime [once] were disobedient.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.8

8. When were they disobedient and in prison? Ans.-“When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.9

There is the whole matter stated in the words of Scripture, so plainly that the most obtuse could not fail to see it. These disobedient spirits were in prison in the days of Noah, and therefore it was at that time that the preaching was done to them. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.10

Note the harmony between this text and Genesis 6:3. This text says, that Christ, by the Spirit, went and preached to the spirits in prison, “When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah.” This would imply that in the days of Noah, God had waited a long time for something. Now read Genesis 6:3: “And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” Here we find that God’s longsuffering waited one hundred and twenty years, to give those wicked people a chance to repent. All that time Christ, by the Spirit, was preaching to them. Noah was the visible agent, but he was simply the mouthpiece, just as Paul says of all true preachers, they are “ambassadors for Christ,” saying to sinners, “We pay you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.11

Here we might leave this subject, but someone will probably be questioning about the prison, and we may as well forestall the queries. By gross perversion of Scripture, it is assumed that this prison was hades, and that the preaching was done there. Indeed, many would-be expositors write as though this were expressly stated in the text. In the next number we shall show clearly why such an assumption is absurd, and how it would have been impossible for Christ, or anybody else, to preach in hades, for that subject is worthy of an article by itself. We shall now be content to show what the imprisonment was, which is mentioned in the text. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.12

The reader will bear in mind that these “spirits in prison” were disobedient. Now disobedience brings condemnation to death (Romans 6:23), and a man under sentence of death is always kept in prison. This is the idea conveyed by the psalmist when he says: “From Heaven did the Lord behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoners; to loose those that are appointed to death.” Psalm 102, 19, 20. And the idea is still more forcibly expressed by the apostle, when he says that Christ took part of flesh and blood, “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14, 15. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.13

Nothing but sin causes fear of death; hence the text teaches emphatically that sin makes men “subject to bondage.” It is the especial mission of Christ to save people from sin (Matthew 1:21), and consequently to release them from prison. For proof of this read the following texts:- SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.14

Isaiah 61:1: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.15

Isaiah 42:1-7: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him; ... to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.16

Notice that Christ proclaims the opening of the prison to them that are bound, and brings out the prisoners from the prison, because the Spirit is upon him. This agrees with Peter’s statement that Christ, by the Spirit, went and preached to the spirits in prison. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.17

Psalm 116:16: “O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid; thou hast loosed my bonds.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.18

Psalm 142:7: “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.19

Psalm 79:11: “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die.” Compare Psalm 102:19, 20; Hebrews 2:16. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.20

To this might be added our Saviour’s talk to the Jews, recorded in the eighth of John. He told them how they might be made free. Verse 32. They denied that they were in bondage. Verse 33. He told them that “whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (verse 34), and therefore in bondage. Compare Romans 6:16-18; 7:14; 2 Peter 2:19. He then told them that the Son alone could make them free indeed. Verse 36. Yet although Christ was there, filled with the same Spirit by which he preached to the wicked antediluvians, these Jews, like them, refused to be set free, and died in their sins. Verse 21. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.21

With this we leave the text, 1 Peter 3:18-20, believing that anyone with whom simple Bible statements are all-sufficient evidence, will have no difficulty in seeing that it teaches this; that by the same Spirit by which Christ was raised from the dead, he went in the days of Noah, and through him, preached unto the antediluvians, who were in the bondage of sin; and that in so doing he was simply doing what he is doing to-day, and has been doing ever since the fall. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.22

This work of Christ, of preaching deliverance to the captives, is limited to this present life, for when he comes the second time he comes “without sin unto salvation,” to take the released prisoners home. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.23

Therefore, “To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts;” for, “behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” W. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.24

“‘Christian Science’” The Signs of the Times, 13, 16.

E. J. Waggoner

This is a very innocent name, and one well calculated to impress many people favorably. The word “science” is in itself sufficient to overawe the multitude, for so great is the reverence for science that a bundle of the veriest nonsense will pass current, if it is only labeled “scientific;” and when to this is prefixed the word “Christian,” to say anything derogatory would be thought sacrilegious. The term is used to designate “the greatest remedial system ever employed to eradicate pain and disease.” As a matter of fact, it is the name of the most unchristian and antichristian nonsense that has lately been invented to deceive people. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.25

According to one of its most intelligent advocates, “It is very necessary to impress upon the novice in the science that we are created spiritually as well as physically, and that the body is not the real self.” After this Spiritualistic utterance, we are prepared to learn that, “There is no death. You are created as a spiritual being, and you cannot get away. What we call death is merely a cessation of the action of the mind on the body. The body is now dead, and it is merely animated by the action of the mind.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.26

Of course if there is no death, there is no disease, and this “Christian Science” consists in deluding people with this idea. If a man has a broken leg, these “Scientists” will not heal it, but will argue something like this: “Your body is no part of yourself. You are a spiritual being, and a spiritual leg cannot be broken, consequently you leg is not broken. That which you call your leg, and which is broken, has nothing more to do with you than though it was a stick that was broken.” But with all this “reasoning,” they would not be able to induce the man to so ignore his real broken leg as to walk upon his spiritual leg. SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.27

As an evidence of the anti-Christian character of this so-called “science,” we need only state that the president of a “Christian Science College” in Chicago, says that the works of Christ and his disciples “were not supernatural, nor miracles, as is generally supposed, but could be performed by anyone whose knowledge and faith in Christian Science would enable him to do it.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.28

This “Christian Science,” or Mind Cure, is simply a phase of Spiritualism. That it will erelong have many followers, there can be no question, for it is based solely on the pagan notion of the immortality of the soul, and that the body is no part of the real man; and a belief of this is nowadays quite generally considered as evidence that one is a Christian. And it is for this reason that Spiritualism is arrogating to itself the name Christian, with good prospects that it will not be long before its claims are recognized by the remainder of the “Christian world.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 247.29

“Where Are They?” The Signs of the Times, 13, 16.

E. J. Waggoner

“Where are the saints that rose from the dead at the time of Christ’s resurrection? Did they return to their graves, or are they in Heaven? Where are Enoch and Elijah? O. B. H.” SITI April 21, 1887, page 248.1

The Bible tells us that “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven.” 2 Kings 2:11. Of Enoch it says that he “was translated that he should not see death” (Hebrews 11:5), and that “God took him.” Genesis 5:24. So there can be no question but that he too is in Heaven. We are not told positively what became of those whose graves were opened at the death of Christ, and who came out of the graves after his resurrection (Matthew 27:50-53), but the evidence seems to indicate quite clearly that they, too, are now in Heaven. Thus Paul says of Christ (Ephesians 4:8, margin) that “when he ascended upon high, he led a multitude of captives, and gave gifts unto men.” Since Christ himself is in Heaven (1 Peter 3:22), it is evident that those whom he led with him from captivity are there too. SITI April 21, 1887, page 248.2

If we turn to Revelation 5:9, 10 we shall find a company brought to view who have been redeemed from among men, by the blood of Christ, who are around the throne of God. That this is not a prophetic view of what shall take place after the coming of the Lord, is proved by the fact that at the same time there stood in the midst the “Lamb as it had been slain.” Now since men can get to Heaven before the coming of the Lord only by a special resurrection or translation, we are warranted in concluding that these saints who were raised at the resurrection of Christ, are identical with those whom John saw in Heaven. SITI April 21, 1887, page 248.3

“Back Page” The Signs of the Times, 13, 16.

E. J. Waggoner

The steamer Mariposa, which arrived April 16, from Australia, brought Elder J. O. Corliss and family. Elder Corliss is quite feeble in health, and was obliged to cease labor in the midst of the best interest there has been in that field. He will go to the health retreat at St. Helena for treatment. SITI April 21, 1887, page 256.1

Since fifty numbers of the SIGNS constitutes a volume, there are necessarily two weeks in the year in which no paper is printed, and our custom has always been to have one of these weeks the week of the annual meetings. Accordingly, the next number of the SIGNS-No. 17-will be issued May 5, instead of April 28. SITI April 21, 1887, page 256.2

The article on this page, entitled “Sunday Legislation in Massachusetts,” although none too long, is no longer than we usually put on this page; but it arrived after the body of the paper had been made up, and we could not let matter of so great interest and importance, lay over for two weeks. We expect that our correspondent will give us, in our next issue, the outcome of the matter in the Senate. SITI April 21, 1887, page 256.3

A man in Kansas takes exceptions to our teaching that the Sabbath should still be kept holy, and says: “How a man lives is the only possible criterion to judge by. Right conduct is the only orthodoxy.” We agree, and would inform our critic that whether or not a man keeps the Sabbath, has a good deal to do with his life. It is quite essential to right conduct that he keep the Sabbath, for so the Lord commands. SITI April 21, 1887, page 256.4

One of our exchanges remarks that in view of the political influence which recent events in Germany have demonstrated that the Pope can exercise the question of who will be the next Pope is invested with an additional interest. That may be; but as a matter of fact, it makes very little difference who is Pope; for whoever he may be he represents the Papacy; and as has been said: “It often happens that the man who goes into the Vatican with progressive ideas, falls under the almost irresistible traditions of the place, and becomes the exponent of Catholic ideas of the irreconcilable type.” The Papacy always has meddled and always will meddle in politics; and the influence of the Pope, whoever he may be, will always be exerted in the interests of Romanism first, last, and all the time. SITI April 21, 1887, page 256.5

The Christian Nation, one of the organs of the National Reform Association, whose chief aim is to have the United States Constitution so amended that Sunday observance can be enforced upon all people, regardless of their position or religious belief, quotes with approval from Dr. Talmage’s recent discourse on the “Abolition of the Sabbath,” in which he says:- SITI April 21, 1887, page 256.6

“Oh! say some, ‘haven’t you any regard for the people’s rights?’ I believe in the people having their rights; but has not the Lord any rights? You govern your family, and the Governor rules the State, and the President rules the United States. Do you really think the Lord Almighty, who made the heavens and the earth, has a right to rule the universe?” SITI April 21, 1887, page 256.7

Indeed we do; but we don’t believe that any man or any body of men has that right. What we object to in the National Reform Association is that it proposes, in reality to take the reins of Government out of the Lord’s hands. We prefer to fall into the hands of the Lord than into the hands of man. SITI April 21, 1887, page 256.8

A man in Kansas has written a pamphlet of 104 pages, expressly for the purpose of proving that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment should not be kept. Having exhausted all the arguments that he could think of, against the Sabbath, he turns his attention to those who keep the day, affirming that everything that none are induced to keep it, except those who grasp everything that is new, and who “will change that for something else as soon as the tide shall run some other way.” He says that “they are white clouds having no rain, and are, therefore, carried about with every wind of doctrine.” The query with us is why he should spend so much time and strength arguing against a practice which is adopted only by those who he says cannot be influenced by argument. SITI April 21, 1887, page 256.9