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A Work of Reform
The work of Sabbath reform to be accomplished in the last days is foretold
in the prophecy of Isaiah： 〃Thus saith the Lord； Keep ye judgment； and do
justice： for My salvation is near to come； and My righteousness to be
revealed。 Blessed is the man that doeth this； and the son of man that layeth
hold on it； that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it； and keepeth his hand
from doing any evil。〃 〃The sons of the stranger； that join themselves to the
Lord； to serve Him； and to love the name of the Lord； to be His servants；
everyone that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it； and taketh hold of My
covenant； even them will I bring to My holy mountain； and make them joyful
in My house of prayer。〃 Isaiah 56：1； 2； 6； 7。
These words apply in the Christian age； as shown by the context： 〃The Lord
God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith； Yet will I gather others
to him； beside those that are gathered unto him。〃 Verse 8。 Here is
foreshadowed the gathering in of the Gentiles by the gospel。 And upon those
who then honor the Sabbath； a blessing is pronounced。 Thus the obligation of
the fourth commandment extends past the crucifixion； resurrection； and
ascension of Christ； to the time when His servants should preach to all
nations the message of glad tidings。
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The Lord commands by the same prophet： 〃Bind up the testimony； seal the law
among My disciples。〃 Isaiah 8：16。 The seal of God's law is found in the
fourth commandment。 This only； of all the ten； brings to view both the name
and the title of the Lawgiver。 It declares Him to be the Creator of the
heavens and the earth； and thus shows His claim to reverence and worship
above all others。 Aside from this precept； there is nothing in the Decalogue
to show by whose authority the law is given。 When the Sabbath was changed by
the papal power； the seal was taken from the law。 The disciples of Jesus are
called upon to restore it by exalting the Sabbath of the fourth commandment
to its rightful position as the Creator's memorial and the sign of His
authority。
〃To the law and to the testimony。〃 While conflicting doctrines and theories
abound； the law of God is the one unerring rule by which all opinions；
doctrines； and theories are to be tested。 Says the prophet： 〃If they speak
not according to this word； it is because there is no light in them。〃 Verse
20。
Again； the command is given： 〃Cry aloud； spare not； lift up thy voice like a
trumpet； and show My people their transgression； and the house of Jacob
their sins。〃 It is not the wicked world； but those whom the Lord designates
as 〃my people；〃 that are to be reproved for their transgressions。 He
declares further： 〃Yet they seek Me daily； and delight to know My ways； as a
nation that did righteousness； and forsook not the ordinance of their God。〃
Isaiah 58：1； 2。 Here is brought to view a class who think themselves
righteous and appear to manifest great interest in the service of God； but
the stern and solemn rebuke of the Searcher of hearts proves them to be
trampling upon the divine precepts。
The prophet thus points out the ordinance which has been forsaken： 〃Thou
shalt raise up the foundations of many generations； and thou shalt be
called； The repairer of the breach； The restorer of paths to dwell in。 If
thou turn away
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thy foot from the Sabbath； from doing thy pleasure on My holy day； and call
the Sabbath a delight； the holy of the Lord； honorable； and shalt honor Him；
not doing thine own ways； nor finding thine own pleasure； nor speaking thine
own words： then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord。〃 Verses
12…14。 This prophecy also applies in our time。 The breach
was made in the law of God when the Sabbath was changed by the Roman power。
But the time has come for that divine institution to be restored。 The breach
is to be repaired and the foundation of many generations to be raised up。
Hallowed by the Creator's rest and blessing； the Sabbath was kept by Adam in
his innocence in holy Eden； by Adam； fallen yet repentant； when he was
driven from his happy estate。 It was kept by all the patriarchs； from Abel
to righteous Noah； to Abraham； to Jacob。 When the chosen people were in
bondage in Egypt； many； in the midst of prevailing idolatry； lost their
knowledge of God's law； but when the Lord delivered Israel； He proclaimed
His law in awful grandeur to the assembled multitude； that they might know
His will and fear and obey Him forever。
From that day to the present the knowledge of God's law has been preserved
in the earth； and the Sabbath of the fourth commandment has been kept。
Though the 〃man of sin〃 succeeded in trampling underfoot God's holy day； yet
even in the period of his supremacy there were； hidden in secret places；
faithful souls who paid it honor。 Since the Reformation； there have been
some in every generation to maintain its observance。 Though often in the
midst of reproach and persecution； a constant testimony has been borne to
the perpetuity of the law of God and the sacred obligation of the creation
Sabbath。
These truths； as presented in Revelation 14 in connection with 〃the
everlasting gospel；〃 will distinguish the church of Christ at the time of
His appearing。 For as the result of the
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threefold message it is announced： 〃Here are they that keep the commandments
of God； and the faith of Jesus。〃 And this message is the last to be given
before the coming of the Lord。 Immediately following its proclamation the
Son of man is seen by the prophet； coming in glory to reap the harvest of
the earth。
Those who received the light concerning the sanctuary and the immutability
of the law of God were filled with joy and wonder as they saw the beauty and
harmony of the system of truth that opened to their understanding。 They
desired that the light which appeared to them so precious might be imparted
to all Christians； and they could not but believe that it would be joyfully
accepted。 But truths that would place them at variance with the world were
not welcome to many who claimed to be followers of Christ。 Obedience to the
fourth commandment required a sacrifice from which the majority drew back。
As the claims of the Sabbath were presented； many reasoned from the
worldling's standpoint。 Said they： 〃We have always kept Sunday； our fathers
kept it； and many good and pious men have died happy while keeping it。 If
they were right； so are we。 The keeping of this new Sabbath would throw us
out of harmony with the world； and we would have no influence over them。
What can a little company keeping the seventh day hope to accomplish against
all the world who are keeping Sunday？〃 It was by similar arguments that the
Jews endeavored to justify their rejection of Christ。 Their fathers had been
accepted of God in presenting the sacrificial offerings； and why could not
the children find salvation in pursuing the same course？ So； in the time of
Luther； papists reasoned that true Christians had died in the Catholic
faith； and therefore that religion was sufficient for salvation。 Such
reasoning would prove an effectual barrier to all advancement in religious
faith or practice。
Many urged that Sundaykeeping had been an established doctrine and a
widespread custom of the church for many
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centuries。 Against this argument it was shown that the Sabbath and its
observance were more ancient and widespread； even as old as the world
itself； and bearing the sanction both of angels and of God。 When the
foundations of the earth were laid； when the morning stars sang together；
and all the sons of God shouted for joy； then was laid the foundation of the
Sabbath。 Job 38：6； 7； Genesis 2：1…3。 Well may this institution demand our
reverence； it was ordained by no human authority and rests upon no human
traditions； it was established by the Ancient of Days and commanded by His
eternal word。
As the attention of the people was called to the subject of Sabbath reform；
popular ministers perverted the word of God； placing such interpretations
upon its testimony as would best quiet inquiring minds。 And those who did
not search the Scriptures for themselves were content to accept conclusions
that were in accordance with their desires。 By argument； sophistry； the
traditions of the Fathers； and the authority of the church； many endeavored
to overthrow the truth。 Its advocates were driven to their Bibles to defend
the validity of the fourth commandment。 Humble men； armed with the word of
truth alone； withstood the attacks of men of learning； who； with surprise
and anger； found their eloquent sophistry powerless against the simple；
straightforward reasoning of men who were versed in the Scriptures rather
than in the subtleties of the schools。
In the absence of Bible testimony in their favor； many with unwearying
persistence urgedforgetting how the same reasoning had been employed
against Christ and His apostles： 〃Why do not our great men understand this
Sabbath question？ But few believe as you do。 It cannot be that you are right
a