I WAS ASTONISHED by Dolphius Smith

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 30, 1868

I WAS ASTONISHED.

By Dolphius Smith

FIRST, When a few years ago I was traveling as a Sunday School Missionary, at one time in company with a D. D., Superintendent of S. S. Missions for the State of ———, well known to many readers of the REVIEW, I unburdened to him my mind, being under conviction of present truth, saying, I feel convicted that according to the Scriptures the seventh day is the true Sabbath, he made the following reply: “Bro. Smith, other men have, like you, been troubled about this matter, but by letting their convictions rest, and not acting upon them, they have in time worn off.” (1)

How would it sound to give such advice to the sinner, trembling under the wrath of God, and driven almost to despair? Will not such shepherds be found in the great day, with the blood of souls upon their garments?

SECOND, Recently when in the company of a number of Methodist divines, well known in this State, the conversation turned upon the Sabbath. Every argument was used on their part to destroy the sanctity of the seventh day. I turned the tide of evidence they had accumulated, against the first day, claiming that it would apply as well to the first, as to the seventh day. This they admitted, and replied as follows: “We do not believe that the first day of the week is holy time, but simply a convenient day set apart by Christian nations, in which to worship God.” In astonishment I remarked, I was not so taught in my youth, when a member of the M. E. church, but I was instructed to regard it as most sacred time, the holy Sabbath. “We know,” said they, “that in former years it was so taught, but it was an error.” Truly, thought I, in the days of its ignorance the church enjoyed more spirituality than since it has rejected the light of the true Sabbath. Verily, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen,” and the time is come “when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim. iv, 3, 4.

Being forewarned of God by the Testimonies, the time will come when I shall not be astonished to see these same divines (unless they turn to the truth), join hand in hand with the “beast” and the “false prophet,” in persecuting “the remnant of her [the church’s] seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Ottawa Co., Mich.

DOLPHIUS SMITH.