THE SABBATH by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 25, 1878

THE SABBATH.

By James White

HOW WE ENJOYED IT IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

We have no house of worship here, only our own hired rooms, neither have we a church, only the one composed of three members, the writer, our daughter, and Elder Canright. But the God we worship is not confined to the large assembly within walls. Said the Master, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst.” Once the places of worship were at Jerusalem or at the rival sanctuary in Samaria. Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.” “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” John 4:21, 23.

In the sanctuary of the first covenant God placed his name, manifested his glory, and there held converse with the high priest relative to the welfare of Israel. Daniel prayed with his windows open toward Jerusalem. But in the present dispensation, while the sanctuary and the priesthood are in Heaven, the Lord promises to be a little sanctuary to his people wherever they shall be scattered. The Divine Presence goes with the people of God where they go, and remains with them wherever they are, whether scattered over the mountains or in the valleys. Guardian angels watch over them, ready to bear their petitions to Heaven with the velocity of thought.

When Daniel was praying for his people, Gabriel came to him and said, “At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth.” Dan. 9:23. The commandment that came forth was to Gabriel from Him who hears prayers, to go down and instruct the prophet. Here is evidence that as soon as the man of God who was greatly beloved was on his knees, and had opened his mouth in prayer, the angel was by his side.

Here in these mountains we have time to reflect and pray to Daniel’s God; and how glorious the thought that we may here unite our prayers with those of our brethren from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and in the Old World, and as quick as thought they center at the throne of God, and angels are sent from the prayer-hearing Father to return the answers. The God we worship is by no means confined to earthly courts. In the language of Whittier, we worship him “For whom the heavens are small.”

On sixth-day, July 12, which was the day to prepare for the Sabbath, we went to the city of Black Hawk to purchase supplies. When entering the city, we encountered one of the most terrific thunder and hail storms that we have ever witnessed in Colorado. The water, black with dirt, came rushing down the mountain sides in a hundred rapid streams between the houses, into the main street, and down into the creek below. This reminded us of the necessity of winter clothing, gum coats and blankets, and umbrellas. But as we had a covered carriage we suffered only from the storm that came in at the open sides of the carriage.

We reached our home at Rollinsville just as the king of day was dropping behind the mountains. Although chilled by the cold rain, Elder Canright and the writer walked up and around the mountain one mile to a beautiful lake. There, where all nature seemed hushed excepting the distressed scream of a disturbed robin and the coarse notes of a night hawk flying above us, we bowed in prayer upon the bare hard rocks. The heavens above us were now clear. A beautiful Colorado sunset was fading, and it seemed to us that the Master who called us into the gospel field in youth, was looking down upon us in love and approbation. Angels seemed very near to us as the distant mountains echoed our prayers as they went up to Heaven. God heard our prayers for Jesus’ sake, and gave us his rich blessing. We then returned, having had a walk of two miles, and after our regular family prayers, we lay down to rest at half past nine, and slept sweetly until half past six this morning, making nine hours of uninterrupted sleep.

One of the pleasant dreams that we enjoyed was that we were walking out with Mrs. Walling, and she was very happy. We felt a great desire to be as happy in the love of God as she was, and decided to be more frequent and earnest in prayer.

We arose this Sabbath morning greatly refreshed, and before breakfast walked one mile. On our return, we learned that Mr. Walling had brought our carriage. We then gathered around the table with one more added to our number, and enjoyed the first meal of the day. Then came family prayers.

Although Rollinsville is a very quiet place, and the house is now quiet on account of the severe sickness of Mrs. Rollins, who is lying at the point of death, yet we chose to ride out to the Boulder Park with Mr. Walling, there to rest and pray, and take our second meal. And after spending the day in harmony with the divine precept, we returned to Rollinsville.

As the sun was sinking behind the mountains, we again walked out to the lake where we enjoyed a season of prayer at the commencement of the Sabbath, and there our prayers were offered to God with thanksgiving for the blessing of the Sabbath which was then taking its departure. By the time we reached home, the Sabbath was past, and we felt at liberty to make plans with Mr. Walling relative to our sojourn here. Thus has passed a good Sabbath in the Rocky Mountains. J. W.

Rollinsville, Colorado, July 13, 1878.