Testimony on the Sabbath and Immortality
By W. Gatchell
Bro. Smith: Nearly thirty-one years ago I obtained an evidence of sins forgiven, and was baptized and joined the church. From a child I was instructed that I had an immortal soul that would exist forever, either in happiness or woe. It was so deeply rooted in my mind that I truly believed it so. But after I had read the Bible through several times, and searched it diligently, to my astonishment I could not find any text in the book to inform me that a man had an immortal soul, or that when he died his soul went to happiness or misery; but I did read there that man became a living soul, after the breath of life was breathed into his nostrils, and it looked to me that that was the active, vital principle, that the sentence of death was pronounced upon for disobedience. A good many things were preached that I could not see into, but I thought the ministers knew best about it. When Elders Cornell and Loughborough were here with their tent, I went to all their meetings, all that my health would admit of. Most of their discourses met my views. The Sabbath question was dark to me; but I determined to be like the noble Bereans, and search the Scriptures, and see if these things were so. I was told, there, that the seventh day was the Sabbath. I thought much on the subject; and I read the vindication of the true Sabbath, by J. W. Morton, and attended the monthly meetings. My mind was very much agitated on the subject, but I felt that I wanted more light, in order to move forward. Last fall I attended the Monthly Meeting, and spoke of my feelings there. A sister was in the hall, who arose and told about my urging upon her, some 25 or 28 years ago, the necessity of her seeking an interest in the Saviour; and now, said she, I think it is your duty to embrace the truth, and keep the commandments. I felt condemned, and there I resolved to act on the light I had got, without waiting for more, and try to keep the Sabbath of the Bible. My mind became calm, and I enjoyed great peace. I have often thought of this passage since: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is staid on thee.” Why? “Because he trusteth in thee.” I followed up the weekly meetings, regularly, but thought I would avoid saying anything about the Sabbath. But I felt, most powerfully, that I must say something about the Sabbath, and when I began to speak, light broke in upon me like the morning, and I felt that I could truly say, “Oh! how I love thy law, it is my meditation all the day.” Since that time I have not been sorry for the step that I then took; and by the grace of God, I mean to be an overcomer, through the blood of the Lamb, and the word of my testimony, and have an inheritance in the earth made new, with God’s remnant people, who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. My object in penning these lines, is to lead others to act differently from what I did, and to plant themselves on the promises of God, and keep his commandments, whether they have all the light they want or not; and the God of the Sabbath will cause the light to spring up in their minds.
W. Gatchell.
Cumberland Co., Maine.