SABBATH OBSERVANCE

Southland Times, Issue 20613, 11 October 1928, Page 5

SABBATH OBSERVANCE

MR PASCOE’S ANSWER. To the Editor. Sir, —It is certainly a step toward progress when Mr Sampson consents to accept the Bible as the real authority. Many were beginning to conclude that he did not do so. Although he now says the plan of procedure has been made clear, he immediately proceeds to ignore the plan by irrelevant questions. It is time Mr Sampson definitely undestands the necessity of keeping strictly to the point, and to remember we are not discussing Seventh Day Adventists. If the time ever comes for him to discuss them or any other body, I would suggest he be sure what they teach before laying charges. The need of this advice will be understood when I say that two charges suggested by questions 78, 79 are untrue. Question 72 not clear. Question 73. I understand a “fundamentalist” is one who accepts the Bible as the Word of God, and his rule of faith and practice. 74. Yes I believe the days of creation were of the same length as our day. The book of Genesis definitely states “the evening and the morning were the first day,” and so on, right through the week. The Psalmist declares: The beginning of Thy word is true. Ps. 119: 160 (Margin). Genesis is the beginning. 75a. I would refer Mr Sampson to my previous reply: (b) A person need have no difficulty in regard to the recognition of the time of day, either at the Poles or elsewhere. It is only an imaginary difficulty, and disappears when a little candid thinking is exercised. The word does not say it is necessary for us to see the sun go down or set, nor does it require us to be situated within view. But does tell us definitely when the day begins and ends. I believe God is more capable of settling that point than man. It is simply a matter of computation to know when the sun sets in any part of the world. By the use of instruments a person can take any particular locality and work from that particular spot and determine exactly what the time is. When God endowed men with inventive genius, thus enabling him to reach hitherto uninhabitable places, the ability to invent instruments of navigation, etc., was also given, thus man is equipped with the necessary knowledge to carry out the Lord’s commands. When God placed man upon this earth He knew that he would need houses in which to dwell, but He did not build the homes for men, but provided the material and the skill. In just the same way God has made it possible to recognize time. When one desires to shirk duty it is wonderful how easy it is to manufacture excuses and conjure up difficulties where none in reality exist. 76. I have nowhere said the term law in every case refers either to the Decalogue or to the Ceremonial law, such would be absurd; for there are civil laws and many others. In each case the context is sufficient to govern its use. Numbers 77, 78, 79 I maintain are out of order.—l am, etc., J. PASCOE.