Counsels for the Church - Ellen G. White

We should remember that the world will judge us by what we appear to
be. Let those who are seeking to represent Christ be careful not to exhibit
inconsistent features of character. Before we come fully to the front, let us
see to it that the Holy Spirit is poured upon us from on high. When this is the
case, we shall give a decided message, but it will be of a far less
condemnatory character than that which some have been giving; and all who
believe will be far more earnest for the salvation of our opponents. Let God
have the matter of condemning authorities and governments wholly in His
own keeping. In meekness and love let us as faithful sentinels defend the
principles of truth as it is in Jesus.
Sunday Laws
Religious powers, allied to heaven by profession, and claiming to have
the characteristics of a lamb, will show by their acts that they have the heart
of a dragon and that they are instigated and controlled by Satan. The time is
coming when God's people will feel the hand of persecution because they
keep holy the seventh day. Satan has caused the change of the Sabbath in the
hope of carrying out his purpose for the defeat of God's plans. He seeks to
make the commands of God of less force in the world than human laws. The
man of sin, who thought to change times and laws, and who has always
oppressed the people of God, will cause laws to be made enforcing the
observance of the first day of the week. But God's people are to stand firm
for Him. And the Lord will work in their behalf, showing plainly that He is
the God of gods.
The law for the observance of the first day of the week is the production
of an apostate Christendom. Sunday is a child of the papacy, exalted by the
Christian world above the sacred day of God's rest. In no case are God's
people to pay it homage. But I wish them to understand that they are not
doing God's will by braving opposition when He wishes them to avoid it.
Thus they create prejudice so bitter that it is impossible for the truth to be
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