What Shall We Do with the Mill?
By C. O. Taylor
IT is often quite perplexing to business men to know how they can keep the Sabbath and carry on their business. A case of this kind occurred while I was urging an aged father, of some eighty-five winters, to keep a few of God's holy Sabbaths, before he should go hence. He had given up business generally, yet felt an interest for his son, who owned a saw-mill. While I was urging the observance of all the commandments, his inquiry was, What shall we do with the mill? My reply was, Shut down the gate. In various ways I would bring his mind to the question of keeping the Sabbath, as a few, at most, was all he could keep. Each time he would ask, What shall we do with the mill? Customers will come and want work, &c. Each time I would say, Shut down the gate. Well, father and son commenced about that time to remember the Lord's rest-day, and to do no manner of work on sacred time. I saw the son some six or eight months after. I asked him how he got along with the mill, and keeping the Sabbath. His ready reply was, Just as well as when I kept Sunday. We have no more trouble or difficulty. He saw the difficulty, and arranged for it. He told his numerous customers, living from one to twenty miles around, that the seventh day was the Sabbath, and he was going to keep it; and after they once knew it, they must not expect to do business with him on that day. He told them kindly, gave his reasons, and the difficulty was over. A few might have come, having forgotten, or thinking they could turn him. All such had their trouble for their pains, grew wiser, and the next time came on another day. To all that see lions in the way, I would say they are chained. Shut down the gate. Trust in God. Give him a chance to work for you. Do your duty. Do what your Maker tells you to do. He will take care of the rest. Nothing shall harm you. It is a want of faith on your part; that is all. You have not learned to trust God as you should, nor as Daniel did. Dan., chaps. 3 and 6. Venture right out. Obey God. Keep his commandments, and live.