Lord, What Wilt Thou Have ME to DO?
THE SERMON
(condensed)
By Stephen N. Haskell
Preached on February 4, 1893
Note: Stephen Nelson Haskell was an amazing man who worked tirelessly for the Lord. He will be found without guile in his mouth at the beginning of the 7th plague, and raised back to life by the voice of God to become one of the 144,000 to be translated alive as spoken of in Revelation Chapter 14 to hear the covenant of peace and about an "hour" later, or 15 days later, to see Christ 2nd coming in the clouds of Heaven. Rev 14:5 - we (believers in the True Jesus who writes His Father's 12 Laws and Statutes to our heart, our desires, our little daily choices by the indwelling Spirit of Christ, our comforter and helper) are to be found without "guile" in our mouths. Meaning we do not teach or preach false doctrines not found in the Holy Bible. We do not teach the traditions of men as the Commandments of God. We are to obey God's Word, come what may. To the law and to the testimony if it is not in harmony with the 12 Commandments, it is from ANOTHER SPIRIT, ANOTHER JESUS and is ANOTHER GOSPEL against such we have been warned in 2 Cor 11:3-4; and Col 2:8.
You will find my text in 2 Cor. 8:9: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
All that we know about the divine attributes, is through Christ and by Christ. He is the author and finished of the faith that is revealed for the salvation of the human family, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. And his plan of saving man is revealed only as he sees fit and necessary for the salvation of the human race.
All the universe of God is interested in the unfolding of this divine plan. It is not merely myself and my influence, yourself and your influence, but there are principles involved which all heaven is interested in. When the plan is worked out, and those that will accept the gospel of Jesus Christ will be saved throughout all eternity, the justice of God will be demonstrated. Satan will be destroyed, and there will be a triumph of the truth that will never again be marred by sin and Satan.
But, we are saved by grace through faith, and that is the gift of God. But what is that grace? This is answered in these words which I have read: "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." What is it? "Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." How does grace save us? Why, the grace of Christ as it was manifested by Christ, in his becoming poor that we might be rich, is his leaving the throne of the Father, the royal courts above, and coming to this earth all scarred with sin, and taking upon himself our nature; divinity, God, and by Christ, placed in humanity, and became like us to be tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin, that he might connect fallen humanity with God himself. And by this he becomes the ladder that Jacob saw, that through his merits and what he brings to us of the divine help, we can ascend to reach the heavenly courts. It is all through Jesus Christ. It is grace.
And it is this same quality, that we are to manifest in our lives, becoming poor that we may benefit others, following our Lord and Master. The idea that we can be partakers of this grace and not bear any of its fruits, is the greatest mistake ever made. We cannot be saved unless we have the grace of Christ, and if we have his grace, then it will bring to each soul a sacrifice of one's self, a self-abnegation, that others may partake of the joy and blessings granted us through Christ. Merely professing the name of Christ, does not save us, but it is when the character becomes changed; it is when we partake of the divine nature, and that nature is in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; this is what saves us.
A little way from this, we shall experience a time such as has never been experienced by the human family. It will be the great test that will decide the destiny of the entire race, because soon the Lord will come, and when he appears in the clouds of heaven and takes his people to himself, then the great problem of salvation will have been worked out, and those who are found in harmony with this plan are saved in the plan of God, and are saved eternally.
Those who are outside of the plan of God are lost and lost eternally; and we have reached the period in the world's history when that line of separation is being drawn, and the great question with every one of us is, On which side will we be? God proposes to accomplish a great work in this world in giving the light of the truth to the human race, and in this generation. He has committed that truth and that word to his people; hence it becomes each one of us to inquire, What does God require at my hands?
In Matt. 5:16, the Saviour, speaking of his people and their relationship to the world, says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." How extensively will the light shine? As extensively as mankind are found upon the earth. God never designed that his people should be in one spot, and not mingle with the people of this world. He designed that his people should be scattered throughout the length and breadth of the earth, that their influence might be felt by those who sit in darkness.
When the Jews lost this idea and centered all their interests in themselves, then God let persecution come upon them, and they were scattered and sent unto different nations of the earth, so they should carry the light to those who sat in darkness. The apostles partook somewhat of the same spirit. They and many of the early Christians hovered about Jerusalem. At first God wrought for them wonderfully there. Thousands were converted, – 3,000 in one day; afterward 5,000. But did God design that they should remain there in Jerusalem? O, no. He gave them the light of the Gospel that they should carry it to others, that they might go to earth's remotest bounds, and there let the light shine; and by the light shining in the face of Jesus Christ,the light that accompanied the Gospel, – others would be led to acknowledge those precious gleams, and thus glorify God.
And that is God's plan to-day. There will be a time of persecution such as there was in the days of the early apostles. The people will be glad to scatter out and let their light shine. That is in the very nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We understand that there will not be one tribe on the face of the earth when the Son of man comes, but that in that tribe there will be some individuals that will be letting their light shine. Notice one expression the Saviour uses, as recorded in Mark 13:26, 27: "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." Where will the saints be when the Lord comes?
"From the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." There will be thousands in every portion of the earth that will have the precious rays of light, and will be led to glorify God. There is one expression in regard to this that is forcibly expressed by our Saviour in the book of Acts, and I wish to call your attention to it. When the Saviour promised that he would pour upon the disciples his Holy Spirit, he told them it was not for them to know the times and seasons which the Father had put in his own power, but, referring to the day of Pentecost, said: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
The expression the Saviour uses here is the same as that in the thirteenth chapter of the gospel of Mark. They were to tarry in Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high. But what were they to know? Why, that they were to receive power. Power to know the exact time of the revelation of Jesus Christ? O, no; but power to take up the gospel, and go to the uttermost part of the earth with it. Well, says one, I thought we would know just when the Lord would be revealed. But until the time comes for the Lord to reveal it, this is not for us to know. The Lord has committed to his people a work and we have power to do that work. The time in which we now live is the time for the outpouring of Gods Spirit.
What then is our duty? Are we to fold our hands, and huddle together and take it easy and live easily, and wait in that way? Our work is to take up the gospel and go to the uttermost parts of the earth, and be found there giving the light to individuals that have had no knowledge of the truth. We are to be co-workers with our Lord Jesus Christ, to partake of his Spirit who left the heavenly glory, who left the royal courts above, and came to this earth to save us. This si the grace of Christ.
Then what will we do if we are possessors of this grace? Why, I expect we will leave our homes. I expect we will be glad to leave our homes, and devote them to the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ, and be the means of carrying the truth to the uttermost parts of the earth. It is our duty and I say our privilege, brethren, to be connected with our Lord, so that we can live and carry the light of the truth to the uttermost parts of the earth, and thus be co-workers with the Saviour.
What are we to be a light of? A light to the world, and a light to the people living in the uttermost parts of the earth. If our interest is circumscribed, we may offer a few prayers – and that is all good; we may send out a few periodicals, – and that is all good; but how many of us will give ourselves, will give up our interests, and let our interests and our lives be so interwoven in the work of the Lord, that our practice will be in direct harmony with the work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Brethren, we call for volunteers, – not men to be drafted, – but volunteers; men and women that will say: "Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth."
Here is something that Sister White has written upon this point, since going to Australia:
"I feel deeply over the little burden many carry for the missionary work in the foreign fields and in the home missions. There are thousands of places to be entered where the standard of truth has never been raised, where the proclamation of the truth has never been heard in America. And there are thousands who might enter the harvest field who are now religiously idle, and as a result, go crippling their way to heaven, expressing their doubt whether they are Christians. Their need is a vital union with Jesus Christ. Then it can be said of them, 'Ye are laborers together with God.'
"I think how the angels must feel seeing the end approaching, and those who claim to have a knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, huddle together, colonize, and attend the meetings, and feel dissatisfied if there is not much preaching to benefit their souls and strength the church, while they are doing literally nothing. Souls are perishing for the light of truth which these have. It is their duty to put that knowledge to use to save souls. If their temporal, financial prospects are not as prosperous by moving to localities where the truth has not been proclaimed, will they not be doing just the work that Jesus has done to save them?
"I do not urge any one to change their location to please their own ideas, for Christ lived in our world, all seared and marred with the curse, that humanity might touch humanity, to save souls from eternal ruin. Jesus did not leave the royal throne, the royal crown, and come to our world to please himself. "For our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich." What is the character of these riches? Is it houses and lands and bank stocks in this world? Or is it the unsearchable riches of Christ presented before their minds that shall attract their hearts, that they shall count all things but loss and dross that they may win Christ? We join the Lord's army, fight the battles with the power of darkness, set up the standard of the cross in every place where we can possibly find access. My heart is pained when I think how little our churches sense their solemn accountabilities to God. What self-denial have our churches as a whole manifested? They may have given donations in money, but have withheld themselves.
"The heavenly agencies are waiting to co-operate with human agencies in the grand work of reflecting light to the world. Wherever there is even one soul converted on the earth there is a response of joy circulated through heaven. We are not the ones to make the first movement toward Christ; it was our Redeemer who made the first movement toward us. "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." He touched your hearts by his grace, you responded and drew toward Jesus. Man could not make the first movement. [Christ's] love is expressed for fallen man. [It] led him to make an offering of his soul for sin.
"What, then, is the duty of every enlightened soul? How should he feel as he looks upon the infinite sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God? There are not many ordained ministers; this makes it necessary for you to deny self. If ministerial hands have not been laid upon you in the world, Christ has laid his hands upon you and said, "Ye are my witnesses; go trade on the talents I have given you. Ye are the light of the world?" There will be an antagonism between the church and the world, but the church is to shine. Let yourselves become the consecrated living channels of light to the world, whatever may be the consequences to you financially.
"Let those who truly love God step out from where there are large churches of Sabbath- keepers, and the cause they knew not be searched out. Where is the fruit borne by the branches in these large churches? "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taken away." Does not this statement from the lips of the Great Teacher alarm you who have taken such an easy position, having no burdens, gratifying self, lifting no cross, and no following Jesus?
"I have been alarmed for some years as I have seen the line of demarkation between the church and the world almost obliterated. The design of God in the formation of the church was that the very action of the separation from the world would itself be sufficient to attract attention. Their formation in church capacity has a meaning in it which the world can read. They are to consider themselves a peculiar people of God, an object to be rendered conspicuous, detached from other objects, standing apart. The sons and daughters of God are to stand a distinct, pure, holy people from the world. And if these signs are not seen in the members of the church, it is the duty of the church faithfully to investigate the matter for if there is not a decided transformation of character from a life of sin to a life of holiness, then why? For if sin is practiced in daily life, there is no real value in all their profession, and they will not act in harmony with God as his agents in the regeneration of the world.
"If the professed followers of Christ, even in part, act the same as the world, they may have their names on the church books, but they are not joined to Christ. Therefore the same spirit has to a limited or large degree a controlling power upon the minds, heart, will, and temper.
"Christians in deed and in truth will consecrate the solemn import of the words of Christ, "He that will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, and so shall he be my disciple." It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner. They are professedly serving God, but they are more earnestly serving mammon. This half-and-half work is a constant denying of Christ, rather than a confessing of Christ. So many confirm themselves in lustful practices, and are full of deception through and through in their professed Christian life. Living as sinners, claiming to be Christians.
"The end is near. Every soul will have in the judgment exactly the character of morals he cultivated in this life, just such a spirit and character as he cherished in his home life, in association with his neighbors and with members of his family. And according as he has appreciated the words of Christ and has obeyed them, will be the judgment pronounced upon him.
"I lay down my pen and lift my soul in prayer, that the Lord would breathe upon his backslidden people, which are as dry bones, that they may live. The end is near, stealing upon us so stealthily, so imperceptibly, so noiselessly, like the muffled treat of the thief in the night. Who will consent even now after wasting much of his lifetime, to give his will as clay into the hands of the potter, and co-operate with God in becoming in his hands molded a vessel unto honor? O, how must the clay be in the hands of the potter, how susceptible to receive divine impressions. No earthly, no selfish motives should be suffered to live, for if you give them place, you cannot be hewn into the divine image.
"When this work is comprehended, it will bring even the thoughts into captivity to Christ. This is beyond our comprehension, but thus it will be. We must let Christ work for us. Is there any excellency that appears in our characters or our conduct? It is all from God, the power of the potter over the clay.
"Oh, that those whom the Lord has blessed with the treasures of truth would awake and say from the heart, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" We want men and women to settle in Australia who have a solid, Christlike influence. Oh that many may be uprooted from where they are to become workers with Jesus Christ." [GCDB Feb 4, 1893]
The living agents are needed to communicate the light of truth, and the result will be those who are now ignorant of the truth, will, through the grace of Christ, become precious in the sight of the Lord, and will exert an influence to the glory of God.
Brethren, we are living in the most solemn time that has ever been seen since Adam fell, and the question comes home to us, What relation will we sustain to God? Will we rest satisfied because our surroundings are pleasant? May God forbid, but rather may our hearts be stirred, and we begin to inquire of God, What way, what course, where is the light, and where is the path he would have us follow? The time will come when we will find ourselves scattered throughout earth's remotest bounds. There is scarcely any day that passes but that I feel I would about as soon sleep as live. But I know that God will carry his people through, every one that trusts him. There is not power enough in all the devils that were cast our of heaven to stop that soul.
We have not yet received that Spirit that he wants to give us. There must be a change in our hearts or we shall never enter the heavenly kingdom; there must be a realizing sense of the nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ and what he wants to impart to the human race. The light of truth that shines so freely about every one of us he wants to shine in every dark portion of the earth. The time has come when God himself, by his providence, is holding in check the powers of the earth, that the light may extend and reach those that sit in dankness. Where is our interest in this matter? Is it deepening day by day, or is it to us a tale that sounds pleasant for the time being, and that is all?
How much light do you think could be imparted by the number that is present here this morning? Why it seems to me that there are enough here to almost lighten up the world. It is not we who do the work, but it is God that does the work. It is not what we can do, but it is God that does the work, and he invites man that is so sinful, to partake of his nature; he invites us to sustain that relation to him that he can do the work – not that God cannot do the work without human agency, but he has ordained that the work should be carried forward through human agency, so that when every soul is saved in the kingdom of God, there will be mutual joy throughout all the redeemed host.
O what a grand anthem of praise will ascend tot he Author and Finisher of our faith when we meet in the air. When the saints meet in the air, from every kingdom and tribe will be one shout fo praise and glory that will ascend to God and the Lamb forever and ever: "Thou hast redeemed us with thy blood out of every nation, out of every kindred." How can we say, "Thou hast redeemed us by thy blood," unless we have had an interest in every nation and kindred and tongue and people? The work is almost over; we are down in the very last time; we are near the end. It is coming so noiselessly, so stealthily, and shall we sleep over it? May our hearts be so stirred, that we shall not rest satisfied until we know that we individually are in harmony with God's providence and work.
The time has come for a new departure, for an advance step to come into our hearts. Our own way will not answer the time that we have just entered upon. Those that have known the truth for years, have looked forward tot he time when the final struggle would be nearer; that time has come. God has come near to us. He will pour his Spirit upon us, and the work will go; and when the last soul is gathered, Christ will appear in the clouds of heaven, and we will say, "Praise God." From the uttermost parts of the earth unto the uttermost parts of heaven they will come. Shall we be among the number? May this be our happy lot.
From the General Conference Bulletin, Feb. 2-4, 1893.
You have to KNOW AND UNDERSTAND the SOURCE of YOUR POWER before you can share it. We must learn about Jesus before we can talk about Him!
The message for these last days, the very end of time of which but a few moments are left, is the Three Angel's Messages found in Revelation 14:6-12, which are joined at just the right time by the fourth angel, with the additional mention of the corruptions that have been entering the churches since 1844.
We should have home group Bible studies, opening the Bible and sharing the 12 Commandments for these last days. We should be studying the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, the Way, John 14:6.
We must come to Jesus and invite Him to be our teacher. Claim Jer 33:3. Lev 20:26.
The last great test for God's people is in regard to the fourth Commandment found in Exodus 20:8-11. This will be the final test in these last days upon which everyone's eternal destiny is determined. Either for eternal life or eternal death. It is imperiative to know and understand why God's law is still binding upon mankind as it is the whole universe.
Here is a tract, written about 1862 on this topic:
By Elihu on the Sabbath
"This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." 1 John 5:8.
In reviewing the subject of the Sabbath, I design not to follow any previous writer, but simply, plainly, and briefly, to convince sinners of sin, let their profession be what it may. And this I hope and pray may be done without giving offense to those who love the truth more than error; for God has many servants on earth who would gladly exchange error for truth, and many who do exchange their former traditions for the precious and everlasting truths of God as contained in His Word.
Now, the New Testament witnesses to the law and to the prophets; and that book is said to have been written thus: Matthew's Gospel, six years after the resurrection of Christ; Mark's Gospel, ten years after the church commenced; Luke's Gospel, twenty-eight years after; John's Gospel, sixty-three years after; the Acts of the Apostles, thirty years after; Romans, First and Second Corinthians, and Galatians, twenty-four years after; Ephesians, Colossians, and Hebrews, twenty-nine years after; to Timothy, Titus, and the second epistle of Peter, thirty years after; the Revelation of John, sixty-one years after; his three epistles, about sixty-five years after the resurrection; and the church had properly commenced. And it is easy for us to understand how these apostles understood and practiced with regard to the Sabbath, and they are the "foundation" next after Christ Himself. Therefore, if there was any such institution known and frequently spoken of in the church as "Sabbath," in those different ages of the church, we can easily know what was then meant by it. Some say, if we keep the seventh day of the week, we shall keep a "Jewish Sabbath." Well, we have no Saviour to trust in but Jesus Christ, who was, according to the flesh, a Jew; no other apostles and prophets but Jewish; no other than Jewish Scriptures; and, indeed, Jesus said Himself that "salvation is of the Jews." John 4:22. And what did the writers of the New Testament mean by the words "Sabbath" and "Sabbath day"?
What did Matthew mean in the sixth year of the Christian church? He certainly did not mean the first day of the week, but he meant the day before the first day of the week. See Matthew 28:1. He meant what all other Jewish writers ever meant; viz., "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." But neither Matthew nor any of the apostles ever told us a word about the Sabbath's being changed from the seventh to the first day of the week. Now, if the Scriptures can not be broken, but everywhere mean one and the same thing; viz., "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord," then, if ministers contradict this, and say the seventh day is not the Sabbath of the Lord, but the first day of the week is the Sabbath, will they not in this bear witness clearly and positively against themselves, unless they bring forward the chapter and verse where God commanded the Sabbath to be changed?
What did Mark mean by the word "Sabbath"? He meant, also, that the Sabbath was the day before the first day of the week. See Mark 16:1, 2. Surely, if the Sabbath had been changed at the resurrection of Christ, Mark would have known it within ten years afterwards.
What did Luke mean, who wrote twenty-eight years after the resurrection of Christ? He also meant that the Sabbath was the day before the first day of the week; for he says that the women who prepared the ointment rested the Sabbath day, according to the command merit. See Luke 23:56. Thus Luke understood the words "Sabbath day," in the fifty-eighth year of the Christian era, to mean the day immediately preceding the first day of the week.
How did John understand this subject in the sixty-third year of the Christian church? He not only speaks of the Sabbath day as the others did, but he shows plainly that the first day of the week was considered a business day by the disciples after the resurrection. See John 20:1; also Luke 24:13.
But what did the writer of the Acts of the Apostles mean by the words "Sabbath" and "Sabbath day," thirty years after the Christian church was fully commenced? In writing, he often mentions the Sabbath, and once mentions the first day of the week as meaning quite another thing in plain distinction from the Sabbath. See Acts 13:14, 42, 44; 20:7. The practice of the Jews was then, as it is now, to meet in the synagogue on the seventh day. And again: "The next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God." He does not say this was the Jewish Sabbath, but the Sabbath day; this was the seventh day; and the first day of the week was not then known as a Sabbath by this writer, because he says the next Sabbath day most all of the Jews and Gentiles came together again. I say there would not have been any "next Sabbath" in the week till the next seventh day. Again see Acts 16:13. "And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was wont to be made." He does not say on the Jewish Sabbath, nor on one of the Sabbaths, as though there were two Sabbaths then, but on the Sabbath, i.e., the seventh day, as understood by all Jewish writers of this day. Again see Acts 17:2, where Paul, as his manner was, went in among the Jews, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures,
Thus have I proved that the apostles of Christ understood that one day in the week should be called the Sabbath day; and, further, I have proved that this day was the day before the first day of the week, which is the seventh day; and you can not deny it, nor by the Scriptures disprove it; consequently, if the apostles of our Lord always called the Seventh day the Sabbath day, six, ten, twenty-eight, thirty, and sixty-three years after the church was fully commenced, then it must be the Sabbath day now. And every one of the Lord's ministers who calls any other day the Sabbath besides the one so called by the writers of the New Testament, gives it a title which is nowhere found in the Scriptures; for when they say the Sabbath day, they mean something very different from what the New Testament means. It is already proved that the apostles called the seventh day of the week the Sabbath, and the Sabbath day, for many years after the church was fully commenced.
Now we are to show what sin is; and we are not left to guess at it, or to suppose it; but we have a given rule to know with certainty what constitutes sin. "By the law," then, "is the knowledge of sin." By what law was the knowledge of sin twenty-four years after the resurrection of Christ? Answer. — The very same law that was given when it was said, "Thou shalt not covet." The law, then, by which sin is known, is the Ten Commandments; and you can not deny it! This law says, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." See Exodus 20:10,11. Now, until this law is altered or abrogated (and Christ says He came not "to destroy the law") by the same power that enacted it, a willful transgression of it is a willful sin, let your profession be what it may; for "sin is the transgression of the law." He that offends in one point, or in one of these commandments, is guilty of all, i. e., he is a transgressor of the law, a sinner in the sight of God. But a regenerated soul, a true-hearted Christian, says with Paul: "I delight in the law of God after the inward man." See Romans 7:22. "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." See Romans 7:12. And any person who is not willing to keep the commandments of God, when plainly understood, has still a carnal mind, which "'is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." See Romans 8:7.
Will you say this is judging too hard? or, "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" I wish to judge no man; but the word that the Lord has spoken, the same shall judge you in the last day. See John 12:48. "As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; ... in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." See Romans 2:12-16. Then those who shall hold the truth in unrighteousness, those who pretend to keep the law differently from what God appointed it, those who, in fact, lay aside the commandments of God (the fourth or any other command) and teach for doctrine the commandments of men (the observance of the first day instead of the seventh), such, the Word says, are vain worshipers. See Mark 7:7.
But you say, it makes no difference which day is kept or called the Sabbath day, provided we keep one seventh part of the time! This is not correct, because God never said so. God is not to be mocked in this way. He has been very good and kind to make the Sabbath for man, to appoint the day, and the particular time of the day when the Sabbath is to commence and when it is to end; it is the seventh day in order from the creation — the seventh day in the creation; and He said, "From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath" (see Leviticus 23:32); as the evening and the morning were reckoned for the day. God did not leave this subject undecided, so that His people would appoint different days, and then every one call his own the Sabbath day. But God blessed and sanctified the seventh day, and proved that particular day to be designated by Him, in the face and eyes of about six hundred thousand witnesses, by a miracle directly from heaven, in withholding the manna on that day, and in giving the food for that day on the day before; and it can not be denied or disproved.
Again, you ask, How shall we know which is the seventh day? I answer, Do you wish to know? Then ask the Jews; for God has committed the lively oracles to them, and then scattered them among the nations. Do you know when the first day of the week comes? Well, the Sabbath is always the day before the first day of the week. See Matthew 28:1. But you may say, Do not the majority of honest-hearted Christians keep the first day of the week? and have they not for centuries done common labor on the seventh day, and observed the first in obedience to the fourth command, and still been honest in their motives, and living Christians? I answer, "What is that to us, so long as the true light of the Sabbath did not come to their minds?
Now, we certainly know what sin is, not by what popular writers say — not by the popular traditions of our fathers — not altogether by our feelings — but by the law of God is this knowledge; for sin is the transgression of the law; and all who have the law of God have an infallible and everlasting rule to know what sin is. Art thou a willful transgressor of the law of God? Then by the law is the knowledge that thou art a willful sinner before God. But if thou art an ignorant transgressor of the law of God, then by the law is the knowledge that thou art an ignorant sinner before God. To say nothing of presumptuous sin, I say, If thou hast ignorantly sinned, then repent and reform, and God will heal you. See Leviticus 4:2, 13.
By the law of God, then, is the clear knowledge of sin. I speak to you, Protestants, who keep the Sunday, a day formerly dedicated to the worship of the sun by the pagans, and afterwards brought into the Church by Constantine and Roman Catholics, and called the Christian Sabbath, a name never known for the first day of the week by any of the writers of the New Testament. I speak to you, Protestants, and ask you if you have any given rule to know what sin is. Have you any certain rule to know whether Roman Catholics sin or not, in bowing down to images? They say they do not sin! You say you know they do sin. But how do you know it is sin to bow down to images, when they say it is not sin? Answer.— By the law, you say, you know this is sin, and you know it by no other rule; for you "had not known sin, but by the law." Well, by the same rule, I know what sin is. You say it is not sin to work and do common labor on the seventh day. But we know, not by your assertion, but by the law, whether you sin or not. You say you know by the law that it is sin to bow down to images. I say (by your own rule), I know by the law that it is sin to do common labor on the seventh day; and you can not deny it. And, if you know it is the duty of Roman Catholics to repent of their sins for transgressing the second command, then I know it is also your duty to repent of your sins for transgressing the fourth command. He who said, "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not steal," "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them [images], nor serve them," etc., also said, "The seventh day is the Sabbath."
Can you not see the weakness of the argument; viz., that one seventh part of time was meant in the law, without regard to any particular day? In this you make the commandments of God of no effect through your tradition. Yea, you make void the part of the command which says, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." We read, not that the Lord blessed the seventh part of time or the Sabbath institution, as you say, but the seventh day in particular. Why do you wish to take out and make void this part of the fourth command, when Christ has said, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law"? See Matthew 5:18. It was just as necessary that the particular day should be designated as it was that there should be a Sabbath made for man. It would not have been according to divine wisdom to say, Thou shalt keep one seventh part of time, or one day in seven, because this would have left mankind in as much confusion as your theory could make them! One might have kept one day, another the next, until seven Sabbaths were kept in one family. Thus much for the seventh part of time theory.
Suppose a parent should command his child to do a certain piece of labor on a certain day, and that the child should, without any just cause, neglect to perform the labor on the day specified, and should perform it on the next day. Would this show any respect for the authority of the parent? or would the parent approve such conduct in his child? You must say, No. Or, if a governor should command all the military to do duty two days in the year, and leave each one to select his own days, there would be as much wisdom in this as in the seventh part of time for the Sabbath of the Lord. God is not; the author of confusion, but of order; while the theory of one seventh part of time, or one whole day in seven, instead of the seventh day, impeaches the divine wisdom, and makes God the author of confusion. Thus the theory, not the law of God, leads to anarchy and confusion, and to the observance of no Sabbath; and it can not be denied. What reasonable objection have you to the law of God? What fault can you find with it just as it stands? Have you wisdom enough to change it for the "better? "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." See Psalm 19:7. Yea, it is so perfect that it has already converted the souls of many, even from the doctrines and commandments of men, to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and I trust it will convert many more; because "the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. ... More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." Verses 8-10. "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. ... For I [Paul] delight in the law of God after the inward man." See Romans 7:12-22.
Reader, dost thou delight in the law of God after the inward man? If not, thy soul should be converted, by praying for the law of God to be put into thy heart, and written in thy mind. But, if the law of God is already thy delight, then why not be reconciled to it? Why not be subject to it just as it stands? Why wish to make void one jot or tittle of it? I do not present the law for justification; but as a perfect rule of right in this life; first, between man and his Creator; secondly, between man and his fellow man. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." See Matthew 5:19.
The Westminster divines found contradicting the writer of the Acts of the Apostles! These divines say, "From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath, and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath."
Luke (the writer of the Acts of the Apostles) says (Acts 13:14), Paul and his company went into a synagogue of the Jews on the Sabbath day; this was, according to our account, A. D. 45, and twelve years after the resurrection of Christ. Luke says this was on the Sabbath day then, at that time. But the divines say this was not on the Sabbath day at that time, but on Saturday, and that the seventh day was not then the Sabbath, neither had been for twelve years. Thus they contradict Luke plainly and pointedly.
Luke says (Acts 13:42, 44) that "when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words [of the gospel] might be preached to them the next Sabbath." "And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God." This, Luke says, was on the Sabbath day at that time, twelve years after the resurrection. But the divines say that it was not on the Sabbath at that time; for Sunday had been the Sabbath for twelve years.
Luke says (Acts 16:13) : "And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was wont to be made;" A. D. 53, twenty years after the resurrection, and ten years before the Acts of the Apostles was written. This, Luke says, was actually on the Sabbath day at that time; but the divines contradict him, saying this was not the Sabbath at that time, but on Saturday; for the seventh day was not then the Sabbath, neither had been for twenty years — never since the resurrection of Christ! Thus they contradict Luke again; for all admit that Luke always called the seventh day, the day the Jews met in their synagogue, the Sabbath, in the Acts of the Apostles.
Luke says (Acts 17:2-4) Paul, at Thessalonica, "as his manner was," went into a synagogue of the Jews, and so preached Christ and the resurrection three Sabbath days that some Jews and a great multitude of the gentiles believed. This was twenty years after the resurrection of Christ. This, Luke says, was on three Sabbath days then, at that time. But the divines deny this also, because they say that the Sabbath had "been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week twenty years before." Thus they give Luke the lie.
Luke says (Acts 18:3, 4) Paul, at Corinth, labored with his hands, as tentmaker (on the other days, as we should understand), but "reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." This was A. D. 54, twenty-one years after the resurrection of Christ, and nine years before the Acts of the Apostles was written. This, Luke said, or wrote, A. D. 63, the thirtieth year after the resurrection, and the thirtieth year of the Christian church that this preaching of Paul was on every Sabbath; that is, on every seventh day, the same day that the Jews always met in their synagogue for worship. This is plain, pointed, and positive proof that the seventh day was the Sabbath, at least thirty years after the resurrection of Christ; for Luke testified again and again that those meetings of the Jews and gentiles were held on the Sabbath; and if Luke was a Christian, then the seventh day was the Christian Sabbath thirty years after the resurrection, the Westminster divines to the contrary notwithstanding. And if the seventh day was the Sabbath thirty years after the resurrection of Christ, as Luke says it was, then it is the Sabbath now; for no man, or body of men, have had any lawful right to alter or change this command of God since A. D. 63. But we find not one word in favor of the idea, not even the least hint or allusion in all the New Testament, that the first day of the week was ever so much as thought of as a Christian Sabbath by any of the apostles while they lived. And you must give it up; yea, and you will give it up, if you search the Scriptures carefully and prayerfully on this subject, and if you have a spirit of discernment, and are willing to forsake error for truth, and if you are an honest Christian in the sight of God.
Now, the Scriptures are able to make one wise unto salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ; then why need I stop to examine all the various doctrines of popes, councils, and fathers, when, in searching, I should find pope against pope, council against council, and fathers against fathers? This would be like two companies fighting at great distance, with small arms. But if we wish to come to close action, let us take the armor of truth, which will most assuredly prevail; and the closer the action, the sooner the victory will be won on the side of truth.
Now, my dear reader, if you will take the Scriptures and search them as above requested, then you will find the following valuable treasures of knowledge among the many therein contained:
You will find Christ Himself saying, "The Sabbath was made for man," and that it was made when the first seven days were made, before man had sinned. The Sabbath was thus made not for the Jews in particular, but as a gift of God to man, i. e., to mankind universally, of all nations and of all ages of the world.
You will find that before the law was given at Mt. Sinai, this was a law and a commandment (Exodus 16) ; that it was also written by the finger of God, with the "lively oracles," which God committed to the Jews to give to us; that this law, by which is the clear knowledge of sin, is an infallible and everlasting rule by which, to know what is sin, and what is not sin; that sin is the transgression of the law; and that to act against it, or to do things contrary to it, is sin; but "where no law is, there is no transgression;" that this law Christ came not to destroy, abrogate, or make void; that the law is holy, and just, and good; and that Christians delight in it. And as Paul had not "known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet," so we had not known which day of the week was the Sabbath, except the law had said, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Now, we know by the law that this is the Sabbath, without the help of commentators.
You can find that the resurrection of our Saviour has nothing to do with changing the Sabbath, any more than His birth, His death, or His ascension had. "Whether He was risen near the end of the Sabbath, or some time before the common time of beginning the first-day sabbath, so-called, has nothing to do with altering one jot or one tittle of the law of God.
You can find that the common reasonings of men, that Christ frequently met with His disciples on the first day of the week after His resurrection more than on other days, are false and without foundation; that He went with two of them to Emmaus, about seven and a half miles, and returned to Jerusalem, which would plainly show that He did not regard that day as a Sabbath; that He met with His disciples in the evening, which must have been after the beginning of the second day of the week (see Genesis 1:8), when they were met, but not to celebrate the resurrection, as false reasoners pretend; that He met with them again "after eight days," i. e., near the middle of the next week; and again they were together fishing, so that the fishing day would prove a Sabbath, as much as either of the first two visits.
You can find that Luke had not forgotten the distinction between the "first day of the week" and "the Sabbath day" (Acts 20:7), in his recording the meeting of the disciples to break bread on that day; and that this is the only time the first day of the week is mentioned in all the Acts of the Apostles; and it is the only notice of Paul's preaching on that particular day, or rather, evening, and that on a particular occasion; viz., in order to be "ready to depart on the morrow;" that this one instance of the first day's being mentioned proves that it was not the Sabbath, and that the many meetings of the Jews and gentiles, believers and unbelievers, where Paul preached "every Sabbath," certainly did not occur on the first day of the week.
You may find that Paul, in giving orders to some of the churches to lay by themselves in store something according as God had prospered them, on the first day of the week for the poor saints at Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:2), does not prove that to be the Sabbath day, but that it was not the Sabbath day, nor suitable to a Sabbath day's work; but rather as an offering to the Lord of "the first ripe fruits of their increase;" to be the first business attended to in the week, to reckon up their earnings and incomes, and devote a part of the same, and lay it by itself, so that it would be ready when Paul came. This was a good calculation for the first business of the week.
You can find that as there is no law of God against doing common labor on the first day of the week, therefore it is no sin or transgression of any law other than the laws and commandments of men.
You can find that the Saviour said to His disciples, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." Again, "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." Again, "Jesus answered and said unto him [Judas, not Iscariot], If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him."
Now, my dear reader, if you neglect or refuse to obey this fourth command of the Decalogue, are you not left without excuse? And you can plead nothing in extenuation of your neglect. "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil."
Learn here, more about the origin (the beginning) of Sunday Sacredness, or First day worship instead of Saturday, the fourth Commandment's command upon mankind to learn more about WHY Satan has created a counterfeit for every single truth to deceive, if possible, the very elect.
Learn more about the Sabbath, of the Lord thy God, here.
If Christ's soldiers look faithfully to their Captain for their orders, success will attend their warfare against the enemy. No matter how they may be beset, in the end they will be triumphant. Their infirmities may be many, their sins great, their ignorance seemingly insurmountable; but if they realize their weakness, and look to Christ for aid, He will be their efficiency.... If they avail themselves of His power, their characters will be transformed; they will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and holiness. Through His merits and imparted power they will be “more than conquerors.” Supernatural help will be given them, enabling them in their weakness to do the deeds of omnipotence.... HP 252.4
By faith they are to look calmly upon every foe, exclaiming: “We fight the good fight of faith, under the command of an omnipotent Power. Because He lives, we shall live also. Through Jesus ... we may withstand all the fiery darts of the enemy.” HP 252.5
Christ: "He pleaded with the Father for power to overcome their unbelief, to break the fetters with which Satan had enthralled them, and to conquer the destroyer" HLv 66.6.
Never before had angels listened to such a prayer. The Father Himself would answer the petition of His Son. The heavens were opened, and upon the Saviour's head descended a dovelike form of purest light. HLv 67.1
Few at the Jordan except John discerned the heavenly vision. Yet the solemnity of the divine Presence rested on the assembly. Christ's upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man. From the open heavens a voice was heard: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” HLv 67.2
Learn more about the Sabbath, of the Lord thy God, here.