Wichita eagle., 1889-03-08
Written for the Eagle.
A STRANGE CONCENTRATION AND
WHICH rs RIGHT?


strange adnIixture of truth and error be
tween the great ambition some apparently
religious people have TO force men by Law
to work the righteousness of God, anG
others who as moralists yet trying to drive
Christian reform by the use OF civil law
The moralist appeals to reason(!l and she
religious man to the Bible. Which proba-
bly, is all right if rightly done.
But a strange contradiction deveIopes
itself when we compare the
Bible mans quotations to con-
denim the use of intoxicating drinks
with his bible For we find they have nc
reference TO intoXicants whatever. but
strange to say, the scripture they use to
condemn drinking is written in express
condemnation of keeping the Sabbath day,
the obedience to which they would enforce
by the civil law. We refer to the scripture
which has been so long attached to a tenn
perance pledge that most OF people believe
that the finger of God has absolutely
thus applied it, namely: Touch not,
taste not, handle not. which all
are to perish with the using. Col. 2: 81.
~. If the reader cares enough about this
matter to turn to and read the Epistle TO
the Col, he will find that the Apostle Paul
taught them TO desist from observing OF
the Sabbath day. Because it belonged to
the old covenant with other carnal ordi-
nanceS he mentions such as new moon,
meats and drinks, holy days. ETC.,
q: 16) which Christ had nailed to
the cross e: d thereby removing the
old covenants OF the law with
all ordinances which were carnal and in
their place given as the new covenants of
grace on which there are no ordinances;
and to warn men of the danger OF incuring
Gods displeasure by persisting in obsery-
ing the sabbath to please Him when He
has not only for bid it, but placed a curse
on men who follow this practice (see GAL
$40 commanded only Of men and contrary
to His WILD Col. 2-22) and we enforce the
truth of His dispiease of chris
ordinance of Sabbath day. God has
giving the following scripture, so wrong
fully used by moral reformers, namely,
"If We be dead with Christ why as though
living in the world are We subject to ordi-
nances." Touch not, taste not, handle
not which all are to perish with the
using"
Seeing the Bible is so clear on this sub
ject, l wonder how preachers or any
man can twist this scripture to
condemn something that it has
no reference to and then try TO enforce by
law what it does absolutely condemn. Ii
l have misrepresented this scripture will
some one for the word of God and for
Christian % reform sake show wherein.
If have not is there a preacher In Wichita
that dares to be Daniel cut it loose from
the temperance pledge and place it under
a pledge to abstain from keeping the Sab
bath day, and then for the sake of
Jesus word add to it his own
signature and thus make a
beginning to put an end to law and
and show their true love to
Christ by obeying his commandments.
Let christians if the word of God be the
word of God use it their only rightful
WEI pon for tearing down wickedness in
high places, these strong Joint" holes of
Satan. Ii it be not the word of God let
us grab the end at once. burn up the Bible,
deny the Saviour. Let preachers and pro-
fessors seize the offices of the powers that
be and with the carnal weapons OF law,
whip and sword, ostrasize every man,
an child that will not worship
their commands as divine.
sHow much better is the right way-that
is, preach moderation in all things by pre-
cept and temperance by example, and die
tate to no man what he shall eat, or drink,
or chew, or how he shall act on certain
days. Col. PIG And let every man be
fully persuaded in his own mind how he
can best en- JOY and recreate his energies on
Sunday. Some men prefer TO co to some
church, some prefer to stay at home, some
prefer to go fishing, some to have picnic
ness, etc. Let every man be persuaded in
his own mind. Thus manifest that
principle of liberty which is
the goddess of our country and
the ride and glory of the gospel of the
Son of God and our religion, which loudly
and Enthusiastically declare that where the
spirit of God is there is liberty. When
this liberty is abused the powers that be
punish; but let the christian hold his only
fort, which is found at the feet of Jesus
and access to throne of grace.
We should observe day or mental and
physical rest the leading purposes for
which the Sabbath was used under the law
oy which it was given-a day of rest for
man and beast. AS type it ends with all
who accept their rest in Christ (Heb. A..
Preachers are not always the best
5acticians, If they really fear that that the
Sabbath is in danger of being obliterated
which does not speak much for our faith
n God-they would suggest the propriety
If its non-observance and that men should
De compelled to work the same on that
lay as they do on others.
1t takes but little foresight to see that it
would be betterly opposed by all the labor
ng men en- mass throughout the world.
It would suit the masses far better to
nave two Sundays in a week rovided they
Gould feel perfect liberty TO enjoy them
after their own liking and wages raised so
hey could earn as much III five days as
hey do now in SIX.
But this would be too tame because it
would not reach the key note which is
your place on the holy Sabbath is in the
hurch where you can hear my fine SER
non." Man was not made for the Sab
oath, but the Sabbath was made for man,
md man is Lord oyer it and has supreme
light to enjoy it as he pleases.
The new testament no where commends
he keeping of it and the Saviour ignored
t on many occasions before the Jews.
Nailed it to the cross when He was cruci- |
led and repealed it forever in the revela-
ions of the gospel to the Gentiles through
he Apostle Paul as we have shown in His |
to the Collosians.
A CHRISTIAN.
P.S AnnaTaylor, Frank Oliver, Col. Fouts, |
tc,, in their resolutions say they do not |
xpect to suppress vice wholly. We ask |
7hat they intend to do with that which |
hey do not expect to suppress? Let it run |
{ large, l suppose. For if it is crime TO /
egulate vice by law now, 1t would also be |
crime to regulate the remainder by law, |
7ould it not? They stand in the same po- /
ltion that the great philosopher did who /
iscovered that the earth stood on a rock. /
When asked what the rock stood /
II, his reply was, upon another /
ock, of course Well. but what did |
hat other stand on? Why, it is rock all !
be way down, you fool. When will men /
1t up on a vain ambition? We have laws
nough now 10 suppress all vice if it could /
e done in this way. II you cannot exc
ute with one set Of laws, how will you /
etter 1t by piling rock upon rock where |
he bottom Is not solid: The mistake /
sual retormers make is instead of using
he civil law to carry cut their purpose /
hey Ought to preach the gospel which |
Ill lift them out of that remaining vice, /.
Or God cannot look upo1 sin with the /
EAST degree o. allowance.
THE STORAGE MOTOR.