Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-19
Pearson on Scriptures.


Pearson on Scriptures.
Editor Courier: Carlisle Smith, in
the vain effort to give us the chapter
and verse which says that the Christ
ians of the early church met on the
seventh day for worship, refers to al
most every place in the Acts that
mentions any kind Of meeting on that
day, but he seems to overlook the
fact that in not single instance was
there a church established in the diff
ferent places where these Sabbath
meetings were held. Neither were
they in any sense worship meetings.
L. was Paul and other missionaries
preaching the gospel, first to the Jew s
and after they rejected it, to the gen.
ties. AS soon as G. church was form
ed, there is no further mention OF
Sabbath meetings. SO friend Smith,
you will have to Try again on that
point.
Because in our frequent reference
to the fourth chap'er of Hebrews. we
have connected verses 3 and 10, omit
ting the others, Mr.. Smith thinks he
has caught us doing what We accuse
them of so often wrestling the scrip
tures.' ....
II the reader will look carefully at
the portion from Hebrews 3:18 to 4:l2
he will see there is frequent reference
to g. rest that Is in contrast with
the seventh day. The epistle is ad-
dressed to Hebrew Christians who, be-
ing Jews, had been under the law be-
fore they were saved ad accustomed
to the seventh day rest. They are
warned "lest promise being left us
of entering into his rest, any Of you
should seem to come short of it," verse
l.. Again "they to whom it was first
preached entered not in because of
unbelief,' verse 6. '.@-" f..z- -.
Why should it be said, There re-
maineth therefore rest, (keeping OF
a Sabbath margin) to the people of
Cod" verse 9, If the Sabbath to which
they were accustomed had not been
Get aside? Then the "rest" here
spoken of is not enjoyed as result Of
"six days labor" but, 1--WE, which
have believed, do enter into rest
verse 3.
Now connecting this with verse 10,
"For he that is entered into his rest,
he also hath ceased from his own
works, as God did from his We have
the writer's meaning in a nutshell and
instead of the contest weakening our
statement. it confirms, the proposition
that we gave in our first letter some
two years ago, that, ''The Christians
Sabbath Is not a day, but the expert
ence of eternal rest into which he en-
tiers by believing in Jesus" Now let
us notice a statement in Mr. Smiths
letter. In his effort to settle this
point that their usual time of worship
was on the Sabbath" he cites Acts
1874 and says. He reasons with
them every Sabbath day, for a year
and six months, as shown in verse,
II "T[ad he read more carefully, he
would have seen that when Paul testf-
fed to the Jews that Jesus was
Christ" verse 5; they opposed them
selves and blasphemed" then Paul
shook his raiment, and said: | will
20 unto the gentiles," verse 6. Then
le left the Jews and went to the home
If Justus whose house joined the syna-
sogue land Crispus, the chief ruler OF
he synagogue believed on the Lord
With all his house, and many of the
Corinthians hearing. believed and
we're baptized. verse 8, and so a
church was established and Paul Con
inued there year and six months |
eaching the word of God among
hem" verse II. And what did he
each the Christians? Surely not that
hey should keep the law and the
"a bbath, for in the next verse the
ews arrest Paul and bring him to the
Judgment seat and their accusation |
vas, This fellow persuadeth men to
Worship God contrary to the law
.erse 10. And there is no hint that |
heir meetings for worship We're on
he Sabbath day. Why was Paul driv-
n from city to city, arrested, impris-
med. beaten with stripes and stoned J
With stones? Surely his message was !
he same in every place and in Acts !
g. we have his sermons at Antioch in |
ull. The eliminating point was, BE
{ known unto you therefore, men and /
brethren, that through this man is !
Preached unto you the forgiveness OF
ins. and by him all that believe are !!
Justified from all things. from which |
e could not be justified by the law of |
Ioses," verses 1889. Kind reader let
IS ask, what can give rest to a sin. |
,urdened soul, but knowledge of sins !
orgiven and that We who were guilty
# breaking Gods holy law may stand
Justified in his sight? And what Is the
me condition that can give this know,