No Defect In God's Ten Commandments.

 It is said that we make too much of the Sabbath, and neglect the other nine commandments.

We believe that we must keep the whole law, and as the Apostle James said, " if we offend in one, we are guilty of all." If we continue to violate any one of the ten commandments, we shall surely fall in the day of the Lord.

Nine of them are universally admitted by the churches to be binding, and are professedly kept; while the fourth is utterly neglected, and trodden down by them. The reason why we have more to say on, the Sabbath commandment than the other nine, is because this is the very one that is trodden down.

Suppose a garden is enclosed by ten lengths of fence, and one of them is broken down. No one would say, the owner was wrong if he should give his whole attention to the broken down length until it was repaired. Neither are we wrong in vindicating the Sabbath truth, until the breach in the Law of God is repaired.

From Sabbath Tract No. 7, published by the American Sabbath Tract Society, No. 9, Spruce-street, New-York.

Plain Questions. 1. Did God, after he had finished the work of creation, " bless and sanctify" the seventh day of the week; or simply the seventh part of time, without reference to any particular day of the seven ?

 2. Did He not sanctify the very day in which he rested from his work ? Was not that the last day of the seven ? Did He sanctify any other?

3. WHY did He " bless and sanctify" the seventh day? Was it not because he rested on that day ? Will this reason apply to any other day of

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the seven ? Did he not work on EVERY other day? (See Gen. ii: 2, 3 )

 4. Is not God's example of resting on the seventh day enjoined upon us for imitation ? (Ex. xx : 8-11.) Do we imitate him, when we rest upon some other day than the one in which He rested ?

 5. Is it the special appointment of God which renders a day holy, or is it our own act ? Is the day holy because we count it so, or because God has made it so ?

6. When God enjoins us to count the Sabbath, " the holy of the Lord," (Isa. 58:  13,) is it not equivalent to telling us that He himself has previously  constituted it a holy day by blessing and sanctifying it ? Is it any thing more than requiring us to reckon the day to possess that dignity which He has already conferred upon it?

8. If God's blessing did not rest upon one particularly specified day, could he challenge to himself any propriety in one day more than in another? Yet in the Sabbath day he claims a special propriety; " My holy day." (Isa. lviii : 13.)

 9. Are we not commanded to refrain from labor in that very day which God once " blessed and sanctified," and thereby made holy time ? " In IT thou shalt not do any work," Do we obey this command when we work all of that day, and make it the busiest day of all the seven ?

10. If it be downright disobedience to set about our work on the seventh day, when God says, "in it thou shalt NOT do any work," can we think to make amends for this act of disobedience by ceasing from work on another day ? Even the performance of a required duty will not make amends for another one neglected. How much less, then, the performance of something which is not required ! "Who had required this at your hand ?"

11. Has God ever taken away the blessing which he once put upon the seventh day, and made that day a common or secular day ?

12. Does not the reason of the blessing (See Quest 3,) possess all the cogency now that it ever did ? Has it lost force by the lapse of time ? And while the reason of an institution remains, does not the institution itself remain?

13. Was the reason of the blessing which God originally put upon the seventh day, founded upon any need that men then had of a Redeemer ? Was it therefore to receive its accomplishment and fulfillment by the actual coming of the Redeemer ? In what possible sense can it be said, that Jesus Christ fulfilled and made an end of this reason ?

14. Has God ever said of the first day of the week, In it thou shalt not do any work? Has Christ ever said so ? Have the apostles ?

 15. Is there any scriptural proof that Christ, or His apostles, or the Christian churches in the days of the apostles, refrained from labor on the first day of the week?

 16. As there is no transgression where there is no law, (Rom. iv : 15 ; 1 John 3: 4,) what sin is committed by working on the first day of the week ?

 17. Does not the Sabbatic Institution RESULT from the blessing and sanctifying of a particular day ? Is not this the very things in which it consists? How then is the institution separable from the day thus " blessed and sanctified ?" How can it be separated from that upon which its very existence depends ?

 18. If the very life and soul of the institution consist in the blessing which was once put upon a particular day, is it not idle to talk of the transfer of the institution to another day ? If another day has been sanctified and blessed, then it is an entirely new institution, and not a transfer of the old.

19. Does not the law of the Sabbath require the weekly commemoration of that rest which God entered into after he had finished the work of creation ? By what principle of law or logic, then, can that law be made to require the commemoration of the work of redemption ?

20. If it be necessary that the work of redemption be commemorated weekly by a positive institution, must not the obligation so to commemorate it arise from some law which directly and specifically requires it? But when, instead of this, the attempt is made to derive the obligation from the Sabbath law, is it not a tacit acknowledgment that there is no law requiring the weekly commemoration of the work of redemption?

21. Does the Scripture ever apply the name Sabbath, to the first day of the week ? Even in the ..New Testament, where the term is used, is not the reference always to the seventh day ?

22. If Luke, who wrote the Acts of the Apostles full thirty years after the death of Christ, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, still calls the seventh day of the week the Sabbath, can it be wrong in us to do so ? (See Acts xiii : 14, 42, 44; xvi: 13 ; xvii : 1, 2 ; xviii: 4.) If this be the inspired application of the term so many years after all the ceremonial institutions were nailed to the cross, is it not our duty to make the same use of the term now ?

23. Is it not a manifest perversion of the scriptural use of terms, to take away the sacred name from the seventh day of the week, and give it to the first day ?

 24 When the first day of the week is so generally called the Sabbath, are not the common people thereby led to suppose that the Bible calls it so ? Are they not thus grossly deceived ?

25. If the name Sabbath were no longer applied to this day, and it should simply be called first day of the week, as in the Bible, is it not probable that it would soon lose its sacredness in the eyes of the people ?

 26. Is it possible, then, that God has not given the day a name sufficiently sacred to secure for it a religious regard, nor even guarded it with a law,  sufficient to prevent its desecration ?

 27. What then? HAS GOD LEFT HIS WORK FOR MAN TO MEND! IS IT NOT SAFE TO LEAVE THE DAY AS GOD HAS LEFT IT ! " Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor both taught him ?" (Isa. xi: 13.)

28. Are you very sure that by the Lord's day; (Rev i : 10,) is meant the first day of the week ? Have you any Scripture proof of it ? Have you any other proof of it than the testimony of those who are called the early Fathers ?  * *

 34. Though the observance of the first day of the week as a religious festival be in itself innocent, so long as it is not made a pretext for dispensing with an express law of God, (Matt. xv:  6,) yet do you find it any where in the word of God commanded as a duty ?

35. Do you believe that a Sabbath, in the true and proper sense of the term; namely, a day of rest from all ordinary labor, is necessary and indispensable to the well-being of mankind ? If so, do you honestly suppose that God would set it aside, and have its place supplied by nothing worse than a religious festival ?

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36. Is it not wicked to uphold a course which makes the commandment of God of none effect? (Matt. xv : 1-9 ; Mark vii: 1-13.

 Reader! carefully ponder the foregoing questions, together with the Scripture references. *  *  Do not trifle with the Holy Spirit of God, by forcibly wresting his word from its obvious meaning. Let conscience be unfettered ; and act, as fully realizing that "THOU, GOD, SEEST ME."

DIALOGUE; Between a Minister of the Gospel and a Sabbatarian.

 Sabbatarian. Did Jehovah ever sanctify one day above another ?

Minister. He did.

S. And what day was that? .

M. The seventh.

S. When?

M. When he finished his creative work.

 S. Where?

M. In Eden.

S. On whom was it obligatory ?

 M. On our first parents, and all their posterity.

S. Did he ever unsanctify that day?

M No.

 S. Did he ever sanctify the first, or any other day than the seventh, as a day of rest?

M. Not that I know of.

S. Then do not those who neglect the seventh day, take away something from the word of God ? And do not those who keep the first day add to that word?

Read the threatening of the Lord against such :—" If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away front the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Dear Brethren and Sisters-- In this time of trial, we need to be encouraged, and comforted by each other. The temptations of Satan are greater now, than ever before; for he knows that his time is short, and that very soon, every case will be decided, either for Life, or for Death. It is no time to sink down beneath discouragement, and trial now ; but we must bear up under all our afflictions, and trust wholly in the mighty God of Jacob.

 The Lord has shown me that his grace is sufficient for all our trials; and although they are greater than ever before, yet if we trust wholly in God, we can overcome every temptation, and through his grace come off victorious.

If we overcome our trials, and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we endure the time of our faith, which is much more precious than gold, and are stronger, and better prepared to meet the next. But if we sink down, and give way to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker, and get no reward for the trial, and shall not be so well prepared to meet the next. In this way we shall grow weaker, and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan at his will. We must have on the whole armour of God, and be ready at any moment, for a conflict with the powers of darkness. When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God, and agonize with him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty ; but will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy. 0, that all could see these things in their true light, and endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus. Then would Israel move forward, strong in God, and in the power of his might.

God has shown me that he gave his people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and cleanse them. It is a bitter draught, and they can make it still more bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining. Those who receive it thus, must have another draught; for the first does not have its designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does not affect the work, then they must have another, and another, until it does have its designed effect, or they will be left filthy and impure in heart. I saw that this bitter cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance and prayer, and that it will have its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus received it, and God will be honored and glorified. It is no small thing to be a Christian, and be owned and approved of God. The Lord has shown me some who profess the present truth, whose lives do not correspond with their profession. They have got the standard of piety altogether too low, and come far short of Bible holiness. Some engage in vain, and unbecoming conversation ; and others give way to the risings of self.

We must not expect to please ourselves, live and act like the world, have its pleasures, and enjoy the company of those who are of the world, and reign with Christ in glory.

We must be partakers of Christ's sufferings here, if we would share in his glory hereafter. If we seek our own interest, how we can best please ourselves, instead of seeking to please God, and advance his precious, suffering cause, we shall dishonor God, and the holy cause we profess We have but a little space of time left to work for God. Nothing should be too dear to sacrifice, for the salvation of the

32  THE PRESENT TRUTH

scattered and torn flock of Jesus. Those who make a covenant with God by sacrifice now, will soon be gathered home to share a rich reward, and possess the new kingdom forever and ever.

 0, let us live wholly for the Lord, and show by a well ordered life, and godly conversation that we have been with Jesus, and are his meek and lowly followers. We must work while the day lasts, for when the dark night of trouble and anguish comes, it will be too late to work for God. Jesus is still in his Holy Temple, and will now accept our sacrifices, our prayers, and our confessions of faults and sins, and will now pardon all the transgressions of Israel, that they may be blotted out before he leaves the Sanctuary. When Jesus leaves the Sanctuary, then he that is holy and righteous, will be holy and righteous still ; for all their sins will then be blotted out, and they will be sealed with the seal of the living God. But those that are unjust and filthy, will be unjust and filthy still ; for then there will be no Priest in the Sanctuary to offer their sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers before the Father's throne. Therefore, what is done to rescue souls from the coming storm of wrath, must be done before Jesus leaves the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary.

The Lord has shown me that precious souls are starving, and dying for want of the present, sealing truth, the meat in due season ; and that the swift messengers should speed on their way, and feed the flock with the present truth. I heard an Angel say, " speed the swift messengers, speed the swift messengers; for the case of every soul will soon be decided, either for Life, or for Death.

" I saw that those who had the means, were required to help speed those messengers, that God had called to labor in his cause, and as they went from place to place, they would be safe from the prevailing pestilence. But if any went that were not sent of God, they would be in danger of being cut down by the pestilence ; therefore all should earnestly seek for duty, and be sure and move by the direction of the Holy Spirit.

What we have seen and heard of the pestilence, is but the beginning of what we shall see and hear. Soon the dead and dying will be all around us. I saw that some will be so hardened, as to even make sport of the judgements of God. Then the slain of the Lord will be from one end of the earth, to the other ; they will not be lamented, gathered, nor buried ; but their ill savor will come up from the face of the whole earth. Those only who have the seal of the living God, will be sheltered from the storm of wrath, that will soon fall on the heads of those who have rejected the truth. In Hope,  E. G. WHITE.

 Dear Brother White— Your first and second numbers of " The Present Truth," are received, and we are thankful to our Heavenly Father for the light of the truth.

 I would say for your encouragement, that the little band here have received the truth on the Sabbath, without an exception. And we thank the Lord for ever inclining Bro. Bates' mind to come to Jackson. 0, sound the alarm, and let the message fly ! I think it is the last one to the remnant. We herein send you ten dollars for the spread of the truth. If you need it all, use it ; if not, let' Bro. Bates have a part of it to travel with.

 Bro. White—I do believe that your paper is doing the Lord's work, and I wish no alteration in it, by mere human wisdom. Yet I would just suggest the propriety, if your means will admit of it, of having your sheet enlarged sufficient to insert extracts of the letters you may receive from the brethren who have or may receive the message, for no doubt you will have many such. I have two reasons for the above suggestion. First, it will be comforting those who have received it, to hear of others. Second, it may induce some to examine the subject, that would not otherwise, but do as the Lord shall direct.

 Give our love to Sister White, and Bro. Bates. Tell him we are all strong in the Lord, rejoicing in the truth. How thankful I am that this blessed truth has not divided us. 0, praise the Lord !

Yours, in Hope, J. C. BOWLES.

Jackson, Mich. Aug. 18th, 1849.

The letter from Bro Bowles will be read with interest, especially by those who were interested in Bro. Bates' tour to the West. I did not intend to publish letters from the Brethren, but it does seem to me that such cheering news as Bro. Bowles' letter contains, should be published.

My Post-Office address, until further notice is given, will be Topsham, Me., where I hope to hear from the Brethren.

*******

Taken from-

THE PRESENT TRUTH, 

PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY—BY JAMES WHITE.

Vol. 1.  MIDDLETOWN, CONN. AUGUST, 1849.  No.4

We are now studying - 'The Present Truth' papers published in the middle 1800's. These are called the 'Present Truth' because it WAS Present Truth for that time. So why study them now? Because TRUTH at any time is worth studying, and we KNOW that often ORIGINAL truth presented before Satan has had an opportunity to corrupt it, can be very enlightening. At the very least we will see, by the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit, what truth then is still uncorrupted today and still very relevant for us living in these dark, dark times. Our world today compared to a hundred and seventy years ago is so much worse than it was, with so much evil being called good, and good being called evil.  May God bless us as we seek HIS truth for us in our present, bringing us only closer to Him and prayerfully the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!