It Wouldn't Work by George E. Fifield

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 14, 1882

It Wouldn't Work.

By George E. Fifield

BY GEO. E. FIFIELD.

Men who profess to believe the Bible, and yet reject its plainest teachings, often appear to the world but little more than absurdity personified. A Methodist minister of this place—Granville, Iowa—while reviewing us on the Sabbath question, undertook to tell what God meant when he said, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” etc. He said, “All God can possibly require by that commandment, is that we keep only one-seventh part of time. ‘Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind’ which day he will keep.” That very week, one of his members was “fully persuaded” to keep the seventh day, and consequently did so, supposing he was following the directions of last Sunday’s sermon; but alas! the rule wouldn’t work.

Very soon, the class-leader came around, and told him that he must either stop working on Sunday or stand a church trial.

He requested a letter, which was promptly refused. In vain he urged that he had carefully followed the instructions of his minister with reference to keeping the seventh part of time; and also that he had been “fully persuaded” which seventh part to keep. They told him he had violated the Discipline. “Very well,” said he, “then the minister did as bad by preaching against the Discipline.” But all was in vain; it wouldn’t work. The letter was refused, and he withdrew from the church.