Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

condemned the guiltless." He had already declared to them that he had kept
his Father's commandments. When he was accused of Sabbath-breaking in
the matter of healing the withered hand, he turned upon his accusers with the
question, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save
life, or to kill?" In summing up his answer to the questioning of the Pharisees
he said, "Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days." Here Christ
justified his work as in perfect harmony with the Sabbath law. Ministers who
profess to be embassadors of Christ, yet assert that he did not regard the
Sabbath day, and thus endeavor to justify themselves in disregarding it, make
the same accusation against Christ as did the Pharisees. They certainly select
poor company in those caviling Jews who persecuted the Redeemer.
It may not be convenient for you and many others to keep the Sabbath
day holy by refraining from worldly business; but God has not left this
matter to our choice; we are not at liberty to mold our principles according to
our circumstances. His requirements are positive; they are, Thou shalt, and
Thou shalt not; "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the
seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any
work," etc.
The fifth commandment is sacred; but if you should transgress any of
the first four precepts of the decalogue, wherein is revealed the duty of man
to his Creator, you would not be in a favorable position for the sacred
observance of the last six commandments which specify the duties of man to
his fellow man. To break any one of the commandments which specify the
duty of man to God is to violate the principles of the entire law. The pen of
inspiration records that he who offends in one point is guilty of offense in all.
Thus, should the Sabbath of the fourth commandment be disregarded, and
man prove recreant to the claims of God upon him, will this disobedience
prepare him to fulfill the requirements of the law which specifies his duty to
his earthly parents? Will his heart be fitted through transgression of a plain
precept of Jehovah upon the first table of stone, to keep the first precept on
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