The Seventh Day Sabbath, a Perpetual Sign / 1847 edition

WHO ARE THE TRUE ISRAEL?

In the xxxi. ch. of Exod., God says, "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 forever." 16, 17 v. Who are the true Israelites? Answer, God's people. Hear Paul: "Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes of the Gentiles, also; from uncircumcision through faith" Rom. iii: 29, 30. God gave his re-enacted commandment or covenant to the natural Jew in B. C. 1491. They broke this covenant, as he told Moses they would, for which he partially destroyed and dispersed them; God then brought in a new covenant which continued the sign of the Sabbath, which was confirmed by Jesus and his Apostle about 1525 years from the first. See Heb. viii: 8, 10, 13; Rom. ii: 15. Their breaking the first covenant never could destroy the commandments of God. Therefore this new or second covenant, made with the house of israel, Heb. viii: 10, (not the natural Jew only.) is indelibly written upon the heart. Now every child takes the name of his parents. Let us see what the angel Gabriel says to Mary concerning her son: "The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever." Luke i: 31, 33.

Now the prophecy: "There shall come a star out of Jacob and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel." Num. Now 1735 years before Jesus was born, God changed Jacob's name to Israel, because he prevailed with him. This then is the family name for all who overcome or prevail. God gave this name to his spiritual child, namely, Israel. Then Jesus will "reign over the house of Israel forever." This must include all that are saved in the everlasting kingdom. Further, Joseph was the natural son of Jacob, or Israel. In his prophetic view and dying testimony to his children, he says, Joseph is a fruitful bough, from thence is the shepherd the stone of Israel. Gen. xlix: 22-34. Then this Shepherd (Jesus) is a descendant, and is of the house of Israel. Does he not say that he is the Shepherd of the Sheep?—What, of the Jews only? No, but also of the Gentile, "for the promise is not through the law (of ceremonies) but through the righteousness of faith," Rom. iv: 13. Micah says, "they shall smite the Judge of Israel, that is to be the ruler in Israel." v: 1, 2. Now Jesus never was a judge nor ruler in Israel. This, then, is a prophecy in the future, that he will judge, and be the Ruler over, the whole house of Israel. All the family, both natural Jew and Gentile, will assume the family name, the whole Israel of God. The angel Gabriel's message, then, is clear; David is the father of Jesus, according to the flesh, and Jacob, or rather Israel his father, and Jesus reigns over the house of Israel forever. Paul says, "He is not a Jew which is one outwardly but he is a Jew which is one inwardly." Rom. ii. "There is no difference between the Jew and Greek, (or Gentile) for they are not all Israel that are of Israel, neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children." Why? Because the children of the promise, of Isaac (is the true seed.) chs. ix and x. To the Gallatians he says, "Now to Abraham (the Grandfather of Israel) and his seed were the promises made: not to many, but as of one and to thy seed which is CHRIST—then says, then says, there is neither Jew nor Greek—but one in Christ Jesus, and if ye be Christ then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." iii. "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the ISRAEL of God." vi. This, then, is the name of the whole family in heaven; Christ is God's only son and lawful heir, none but the true seed can be joint heirs with Christ in the covenant made with Abraham. Ezekiel's prophecy in xxxvii. ch., God says "he will bring up out of their graves the whole house of Israel." "and I will put my spirit in you and ye shall live." 11-14. If God here means any other than the spiritual Israel, then Universalism is true—for the whole house of natural Israel did not die in faith; if the wicked Jews are to be raised and live before God, then will all the wicked! For God is no respecter of persons: "And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forevermore." 28 v. Here, then, we prove that the dead and living saints are the whole Israel of God, and the Covenant and Sign is binding on them into the gates of the holy city. Rev. xx: 14.

TWO QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERDS AND PRINCIPALS OF THE
FLOCK, ANY WHERE AND EVERY WHERE.

When and where has God abolished his commandments and laws? namely the seventh day Sabbath as recorded in Exo. xvi: 28-30. When, and where did God ever sanctify the first, or any other day but the seventh to be kept for a holy day of rest? Will God ever justify any living soul for attempting to keep one of the six working days holy?

RECAPITULATION

1. Page 5. When was the Sabbath instituted? Here we have endeavored to show when, and how it continued until its re-enactment on Mount Sinai.

2. Page 11. Has the Sabbath been abolished since the seventh day of creation? If so, when, and where is the proof? Here we believe we have adduced incontestible proof from the scriptures; from the two separate codes of laws given, viz: the first on tables of stone, called by God, prophets, Jesus, and his Apostle. 3. The commandments of God. 2d code, the Book of Moses, as written from the mouth of God, the book of ceremonies, combining ecclesiastical and civil law, which Paul shows was nailed to the cross with all their Sabbaths as carnal commandments, (the law of ceremonies,) because their feasts commenced and ended with a Sabbath. See Lev xxiii.

Please read from 20th page onward, how Jesus and the Apostle make the distinction.

3. Page 31. Was the seventh day Sabbath ever changed? If so, when, and for what reason? Here we find, by examining the proofs set forth by those who favor and insist upon the change, that there is not one passage of scripture in the bible to sustain it, but to the contrary, that Jesus kept it and gave directions about it at the destruction of Jerusalem. Paul also, and other Apostles taught how we were to keep the commandments.

4. Page 45. The History which is uncontroverted.

5. The time when the Sabbath commences. See pages 35 and 36, not 31, as on page 46. The sun in the centre of the globe, at the commencement of the sacred year (March or April) is the great regulator or time-keeper for every living soul on this planet. Gen. 1: 14, Exo. xii: 2.

6. Page 49 begins with the covenants. Here by tracing them through the bible we find them founded on the ten commandments. The Sabbath of the Lord our God, the connecting link, or covenant within the covenant; the first law ever given, annexed to the last promise ever made, which if obeyed will save them that are alive when Jesus comes ... Sabbath HOLY.

... principals of the flock.