Future of the Sabbath by R. F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 1, 1867

Future of the Sabbath.

By R. F. Cottrell

Interesting Correspondence.

The discussion between Elds. R. F. Cottrell and N. V. Hull, on the “Nature and Destiny of Man,” seems to be having a long recess. Meanwhile Bro. Cottrell has been holding quite an extensive correspondence with other parties through the Sabbath Recorder, on the Sabbath question, which we transfer to our columns, for the interest it will have for our readers. Some articles on this subject in previous numbers of the Recorder, from the pen of Eld. A. H. Lewis, Seventh-day Baptist, called out the following from Bro. Cottrell, which appeared in the issue of that paper, dated Nov. 22, 1866:

FUTURE OF THE SABBATH.

ELD. A. H. LEWIS:

Dear Brother:—Though I am not aware that I have ever seen you, yet for some years past I have been forming an agreeable acquaintance with you through the Recorder; and therefore take the liberty of addressing you. I have tasted the fruits that the “Gleaner” has gathered, and liked the quality. I have been especially pleased with your earnestness and zeal in the Sabbath cause, and have been deeply interested in the fact that you see from the signs of the times that a great struggle on the question is just before us, which calls for all lovers of the Sabbath of the Lord to gird on the armor anew for the approaching contest. God speed you, and all others, in your efforts in behalf of his holy law!

But permit me to inquire, What do you expect will be the result of the great contest on the Sabbath question in this country, which is so evidently pending? Do you answer, Truth will triumph? It will with genuine Christians. But do you believe that our government, or the people in general, or even a majority, will be revolutionized on this subject, and keep the Sabbath of the Lord? Never, my dear friend; far from it! The clearest prophecies of the Word of God are out against it. You and I, if faithful to the law of God, will be persecuted by the government. A decree will be made to put us to death, because we will not worship the Beast, or, in other words, will not follow

the traditions of the Papacy, and receive the mark of that power that thought himself able to change times and laws, even the times and laws of the Most High. Truth will triumph, surely; for in this severe persecution—in the moment of peril to the people of God—the Lord Jesus will appear for their deliverance, and take them up to stand with him upon Mount Zion. See Rev. xiii, 11–18; xiv, 1–5. Believing the prophecy, it is not a matter of doubt how the contest will end. The little company of loyalists will be translated to Heaven, when, love and mercy having called in vain, “God puts his hand on the lever” of his wrath, and blood flows from the wine-press.

In a recent article you say, “Dull indeed must be that man who, watching the current of things around us, does not see that God is calling for defenders of Sabbath truth.” To this every lover of God and his Sabbath must respond, Amen! It is also true, as you represent, that the Sunday advocates virtually ignore God’s law; and hence their influence tends to “no-Sabbathism.” And I believe, with you, that “the years for the resurrection of Sabbath truth have fully come.” But there is a vein of hopefulness for the future of our American government, in your article, which I believe is doomed to be disappointed. As the advocates of Sunday observance ignore the law of God, so those who hope for the general prevalence of the true Sabbath, ignore the prophecies. And, although, without the aid of the prophecies, one might doubt which was about to prevail in this country, no-Sabbath or the Sunday-Sabbath, yet dull indeed must be the student of prophecy who does not see that the Sunday-Sabbath will prevail in theory, and gain the so-much-coveted support of law. This American government is the mild-appearing beast, with two horns like a lamb; but his voice, like the voice of a dragon, will assuredly be heard. Here will the image of the first or papal beast most certainly be created. The worship and mark of the papacy will here be enforced by law. Then woe to dissenters! But may you, dear brother, and your unworthy correspondent, be numbered with the dissenters, and acknowledged of God as those who keep his commandments.

The time for the resurrection of the Sabbath truth is indeed come. And besides this, God has provided in prophecy a special message for this very time, and for this very purpose. Rev. xiv, 9–12. The time having come, the message is now doing its work. To suppose that the work will be accomplished without the aid of the solemn and seasonable proclamation of this message, is to ignore and impeach this evidently-momentous portion of the word of God. And to say that the message is not being proclaimed, is to deny a present fact—a thing being done—or, to admit a failure in God’s providence in not sending the message when it is due and so much needed, and permitting a false fulfillment to come in the very time and place of the true.

The work of God is never behind the season. His warnings are timely; they always come before the danger is upon us. The last deep conflict upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, is right before us, as you seem to be aware. But the warning message has been rising for nearly twenty years. If you would labor effectually in the Sabbath cause, you must do it by receiving and proclaiming this message. You cannot be successful in the work of God if you refuse the use of the means he has provided for it. The Spirit of God attends this message of his word; and this is the secret of its success. Those who are truly lovers of the Sabbath truth will yet be united in this work; but such as profess to love it, and yet run their mills and transact their worldly business by proxy on the Sabbath, while they may be in their places in the congregation on the Sabbath, deacons and leaders though they be, will oppose it, and in the time of trial yield to the dictates of the image, and receive the mark of the beast in their hand.

Now is the time to venture out upon the word of God, accept of the message of his own provision, so as to work effectually in the closing struggle with the powers of darkness, and then, translated, stand with the Lamb upon Mount Zion. I repeat it, now is the time. In a little while the victors will wear the crown.

The prophecies, which are God’s promises to us, cannot fail. “The scriptures cannot be broken.” God’s plans and purposes cannot be deranged by man. It is safe to venture our all on his providence fulfilling his word. The last message is doing its fearful work. Will you share in the work, and then in the triumph?

Yours in love,

R. F. COTTRELL.