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Counsels for the Church
Your age does not excuse you from obeying the divine commands.
Abraham was sorely tested in his old age. The words of the Lord
seemed terrible and uncalled-for to the stricken old man, yet he never
questioned their justice or hesitated in his obedience. He might have
pleaded that he was old and feeble, and could not sacrifice the son
who was the joy of his life. He might have reminded the Lord that this
command conflicted with the promises that had been given in regard
to this son. But the obedience of Abraham was without a murmur or a
reproach. His trust in God was implicit
Ministers of Jesus should stand as reprovers to those who fail
to remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. They should kindly and
solemnly reprove those who engage in worldly conversation upon the
Sabbath and at the same time claim to be Sabbathkeepers. They should
encourage devotion to God upon His holy day.
None should feel at liberty to spend sanctified time in an unprof-
itable manner. It is displeasing to God for Sabbathkeepers to sleep
during much of the Sabbath. They dishonor their Creator in so doing,
and, by their example, say that the six days are too precious for them
to spend in resting. They must make money, although it be by robbing
themselves of needed sleep, which they make up by sleeping away
holy time. They then excuse themselves by saying: “The Sabbath
was given for a day of rest. I will not deprive myself of rest to attend
meeting, for I need rest.” Such make a wrong use of the sanctified
day. They should, upon that day especially, interest their families in
its observance and assemble at the house of prayer with the few or
with the many, as the case may be. They should devote their time and
energies to spiritual exercises, that the divine influence resting upon
the Sabbath may attend them through the week. Of all the days in the
week, none are so favorable for devotional thoughts and feelings as
the Sabbath
Had the Sabbath always been sacredly observed, there could never
have been an atheist or an idolater. The Sabbath institution, which
originated in Eden, is as old as the world itself. It was observed by
all the patriarchs, from creation down. During the bondage in Egypt,
the Israelites were forced by their taskmasters to violate the Sabbath,
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Testimonies for the Church 4:250-253
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Testimonies for the Church 2:704