ELDER GRANT’S TENTH SPEECH
My friend quotes David and Paul that the law was a delight, etc. True, the old law was a delight, but it is no more a delight since the new covenant, surely. He says the Sabbath penalty is done away. Now I call on him to show one instance where the penalty of a law has been done away and the law remain in force. He says Paul preached on the Sabbath. True, but be did nor keep it. He says, “Let no man judge you in relation to it.” If I was among Sabbath-keepers I should preach on the Sabbath as Paul did.DSQ63 53.2
For further testimony on the new law I will read Romans 13:9, 10. “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other commandment, it is brefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Acts 15:28, 29. “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that ye abstain from [original illegible] offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”DSQ63 53.3
Why nor enjoin the Sabbath here if it is so important? It may he asked why several other commands were not mentioned. I answer, because they were observing them. If the Sabbath was binding, why not bind it upon the disciples in that council. Grotius says, “These three points were the only ones between Jews and Gentiles that admitted of dispute.”DSQ63 54.1
In regard to keeping; the seventh day, it is a fact that a definite day cannot be kept. If two men sail around the world, one will gain while the other will lose a day. When they come together they would find themselves keeping different days.DSQ63 54.2
I will now give a few facts for the brother’s consideration:DSQ63 54.3
1. It is a fact that Adam’s first day corresponded with God’s seventh day.DSQ63 54.4
2. It was a fact that the Sabbath was made only for the Jews.DSQ63 54.5
3. It is a fact that Genesis 2:3, does not prove the Sabbath from creation: for it was not written till after the exode.DSQ63 54.6