OTHO, MISSISSIPPI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 9, 1880

OTHO, MISSISSIPPI.

Bro. J. M. Ellett, writing under date of Nov. 1, says: “I have just returned from this place. Those who had embraced our views are firm in the faith, some new ones are keeping the Sabbath, and a great many others are interested. This is a Baptist community, and the church, alarmed at the prospect of losing so many from their fold, are preferring charges against those who keep the commandments of God. One of their deacons has been tried for keeping the Sabbath, and for not forbidding his family to observe it.” With the above report Bro. Ellett sent a “Confession of Faith,” which a sister had drawn up to be read before the Baptist Conference, which was to assemble October 29, 1880, for the purpose of excluding from that church all who persisted in keeping the Sabbath of the Lord instead of Sunday. We give a condensed statement of this sister’s “Confession,” and our readers may judge for themselves of the spirit which would exclude from church-fellowship one whose sole offense is that she is humbly striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. We are glad that some are not afraid to meet trials for the truth’s sake. Of her Christian experience and present views, sister C. says:— “I was taught the commandments of God when I was quite young, and also that it was my duty to keep them. This I tried to do, but I did not fully understand them all. I felt that I was a helpless sinner, and often tried to pray. By listening to Baptist and Methodist preaching, I learned that I ought to seek the Saviour. This I tried to do, but did not understand the way. All looked dark to me. “When about fifteen years of age, I attended a Methodist meeting, and went forward for prayers. I heard the shouts of many who had just been made free in God, and I felt that Jesus was near, but there was something that kept me away. In answer to earnest prayer, I was shown that it was a lack of faith that kept the Saviour out of my heart. I prayed for faith, and was made to

rejoice in pardoning love. I had thought before that I loved God and his people, but now I knew that I loved him with all my heart. “I now felt it my duty to unite with some church. I loved the Methodists, but could not agree with them on the subject of baptism. I put my trust in God, and prayed to him to direct me, and I believe he heard my prayer, and led me to seek a home in the Baptist church. I have been a member of that church forty years, and still feel it my duty to keep the commandments of God, trusting in the merits of Jesus for salvation. I know that my Redeemer liveth; I love God, and love to serve him. Believing that I ought to keep the ten commandments which God wrote with his own finger on tables of stone, I find it my duty to keep holy the seventh-day Sabbath. I do not think to be justified by the law; for when we have done our duty, we are unprofitable servants, and it is only in and through our Lord Jesus Christ that we can be saved. I believe that Jesus died for me, and on this fact I base my hope. And, praise the name of the Lord, I love my Saviour, and believe that he will soon come to convey me to the mansions he has gone to prepare. “I have been a Baptist forty years, and did not know until lately that it was contrary to the faith of that church to keep the commandments of the decalogue. I cannot find that in the Bible there are any blessings pronounced on commandment-breakers; but I find the following precious passages in reference to those who observe them sacredly: ‘Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.’ Rev. 22:14. ‘By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.’ 1 John 5:2, 3. ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.’ Eccl. 12:13, 14. ‘Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him.’ 1 John 2:2, 5. ‘Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.’ Matt. 5:19. “And now, if you are not willing to retain me in the church, believing these great truths, you are at liberty to exclude me from your fellowship; for I am determined, by the help of God, to keep his commandments and the faith of Jesus as long as I live.”