The Sabbath: Guiding Principles in Sabbath Obervance
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The Sabbath a Sign to the World of Loyalty.-- From the pillar of
cloud
Jesus "spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of
Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between
me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the
Lord
that doth sanctify you" (Ex. 31:12, 13). The Sabbath is a pledge given by
God to man--a sign of the relation existing between the Creator and His
created beings. By observing the memorial of the creation of the world in
six days and the rest of the Creator on the seventh day, by keeping the
Sabbath holy, according to His directions, the Israelites were to declare
to
the world their loyalty to the only true and living God, the Sovereign of
the universe. {3SM 256.1}
By observing the true Sabbath Christians are ever to bear to the
world
faithful witness of their knowledge of the true and living God as
distinguished from all false gods, for the Lord of the Sabbath is the
Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One exalted above all other
gods.
{3SM 256.2}
"Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you. . . .
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy
to the Lord:
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whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to
death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe
the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is
a
sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the
Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was
refreshed" (verses 14-17).-- Manuscript 122, 1901. {3SM 256.3}
Early Counsel on the Sabbath and the Children.-- The house of God is
desecrated and the Sabbath violated by Sabbath believers' children. They
run
about the house, play, talk, and manifest their evil tempers in the very
meetings where the saints have met together to glorify God and to worship
Him in the beauty of holiness. The place that should be holy, where a holy
stillness should reign, and where there should be perfect order, neatness,
and humility, is made to be a perfect Babylon and a place where confusion,
disorder, and untidiness reign. This is enough to shut out God from our
assemblies and cause His wrath to be kindled, that He will not be pleased
to
go out with the armies of Israel to battle against our enemies. {3SM
257.1}
God would not give the victory in the ----- meeting. The enemies of
our
faith triumphed. God was displeased. His anger is kindled that His house
should be made like Babylon. . . . {3SM 257.2}
Above everything, take care of your children upon the Sabbath. Do not
let them violate it, for you may just as well violate it yourself as to
let
your children do it. When you suffer your children to play upon the
Sabbath,
God looks upon you as a commandment breaker. You transgress His
Sabbath.--Manuscript 3, 1854. {3SM 257.3}
No Boisterous Noise and Confusion.--Come to the table without levity.
Boisterous noise and contention should not be allowed any day of the week;
but on the Sabbath all should observe quietness. No loud-toned commands
should be heard at any time; but on the Sabbath it is entirely out of
place.
This is God's holy day, the day He has set apart to
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commemorate His creative works, a day He has sanctified and
hallowed.--Manuscript 57, 1897. {3SM 257.4}
Seeking Our Own Pleasure.--I say to those who claim to be Seventh-day
Adventists, Can you claim the seal of the living God? Can you claim that
you
are sanctified by the truth? We have not, as a people, given the law of
God
the preeminence as we should. We are in danger of doing our own pleasure
on
the Sabbath day.--Letter 258, 1907. {3SM 258.1}
No Day for Pleasure Seeking, Swimming, or Ball Playing.--God would
have
all His gifts appreciated. All fragments, jots, and tittles are to be
treasured carefully, and we are carefully to become acquainted with the
necessities of others. All that we have of Bible truth is not merely for
our
benefit, but to impart to other souls, and this is to be impressed upon
human minds, and every kindly word spoken to prepare the way to make a
channel through which the truth will flow forth in rich currents to other
souls. {3SM 258.2}
Every working of Christ in miracles was essential, and was to reveal
to
the world that there was a great work to be done on the Sabbath day for
the
relief of suffering humanity, but the common work was not to be done.
Pleasure seeking, ball playing, swimming, was not a necessity, but a
sinful
neglect of the sacred day sanctified by Jehovah. Christ did not perform
miracles merely to display His power, but always to meet Satan in
afflicting
suffering humanity. Christ came to our world to meet the needs of the
suffering, whom Satan was torturing.--Letter 252, 1906. {3SM 258.3}
Sabbath Dishes.--We would charge all not to wash their dishes on the
Sabbath if this can possibly be avoided. God is dishonored by any
unnecessary work done on His holy day. It is not inconsistent, but proper,
that the dishes should be left unwashed till the close of the Sabbath, if
this can be managed.--Letter 104, 1901. {3SM 258.4}
The Sabbath a Day of Service.--The first Sabbath of the week of
prayer
was a day of earnest activity. From
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"Sunnyside" and the school, two teams and a boat were sent to Dora Creek
to
bring to the meetings those who were not able to walk so far. The people
had
been invited to bring their lunch, and come to the meeting prepared to
spend
the day, and they responded freely to the invitation. {3SM 258.5}
Some were much surprised that we would exert ourselves on the Sabbath
to bring them to the meeting. They had been taught that Sundaykeeping
consisted largely in physical inactivity; and they thought that because we
were zealous in the matter of Sabbathkeeping, we would keep it according
to
the teachings of the Pharisees. {3SM 259.1}
We told our friends that in the matter of keeping the Sabbath, we
studied the example and teachings of Christ whose Sabbaths were often
spent
in earnest effort to heal and to teach; that we believed that one of our
sisters who was nursing a sick family was keeping the Sabbath as much as
the
one who was leading a division in the Sabbath school; that Christ could
not
please the Pharisees of His day, and that we did not expect that our
efforts
to serve the Lord would satisfy the Pharisees of our day.--The Review and
Herald, Oct. 18, 1898. {3SM 259.2}
Sacred and Secular Activities.--The priests in the temple performed
greater labor on the Sabbath than upon other days. The same labor in
secular
business would be sinful; but the work of the priests was in the service
of
God.--The Desire of Ages, p. 285. {3SM 259.3}
Far-reaching Example of a Headquarters Church.--My mind has been
burdened in regard to the condition of the church in this place. . . .
There
was much need of exalting the standard in this place in many respects
before
a correct and saving influence could go forth to other places. As the
truth
has been presented here it has taken persons from the world and from the
churches and brought them together in church capacity; but not all who
have
professed to believe the truth are sanctified through it. . . . {3SM
259.4}
God calls upon the workers in this mission to elevate
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the standard, and to show their regard for His requirements by honoring
the
Sabbath. . . . From this place the publications are sent out, and the
laborers go forth to proclaim the commandments of God; and it is of the
greatest importance that a right influence be exerted by this church, both
by precept and example. The standard must not be placed so low that those
who accept the truth shall transgress God's commandments while professing
to
obey them. Better, far better, would it be to leave them in darkness until
they could receive the truth in its purity. {3SM 259.5}
Seventh-day Adventists Being Watched.--There are those who are
watching
this people to see what is the influence of the truth upon them. The
children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of
light; when the claims of the fourth commandment are set before them, they
look to see how it is regarded by those who profess to obey it. They study
the life and character of its advocates, to learn whether these are in
harmony with their profession of faith; and upon the opinions thus formed
many are influenced very largely in the acceptance or rejection of the
truth. If this people will conform their lives to the Bible standard, they
will be indeed a light in the world, a city set upon a hill.--Manuscript
3,
1885. {3SM 260.1}
The Importance and Glory of the Sabbath.-- Yesterday [August 10,
1851],
which was Sabbath, we had a sweet, glorious time. The Lord met with us and
the glory of God was shed upon us and we were made to rejoice and glorify
God for His exceeding goodness unto us. . . . I was taken off in vision. .
.
.. {3SM 260.2}
I saw that we sensed and realized but little of the importance of the
Sabbath, to what we yet should realize and know of its importance and
glory.
I saw we knew not what it was yet to ride upon the high places of the
earth
and to be fed with the heritage of Jacob. But when the refreshing and
latter
rain shall come from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power
we
shall know what it is to be fed with the heritage of Jacob and
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ride upon the high places of the earth. Then shall we see the Sabbath more
in its importance and glory. But we shall not see it in all its glory and
importance until the covenant of peace is made with us at the voice of
God,
and the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem are thrown open and swing back
on
their glittering hinges and the glad and joyful voice of the lovely Jesus
is
heard richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear bidding us enter.
[I saw] that we had a perfect right in the city for we had kept the
commandments of God, and heaven, sweet heaven is our home, for we have
kept
the commandments of God.--Letter 3, 1851. {3SM 260.3}
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