Svendstrup, Denmark by John G. Matteson

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Sep 27, 1877

Svendstrup, Denmark.

By John G. Matteson

SVENDSTRUP is in the district of Han, about twenty miles from Alstrup. A man of wealth from this place attended our meetings in S. Saltum, and was so well pleased with what he heard that we had to promise that we would visit his neighborhood also. He has a beautiful grove, where both political and religious meetings have at times been held.

Last Tuesday he sent his conveyance after us, and in the afternoon about one hundred and fifty people were gathered to listen to a lecture on the signs of the times. During the next two days we held two meetings, and although it rained, there were not a few out. The last day there were about one hundred and twenty in the house. They unanimously invited me to visit them again after the harvest, to teach them the word of God more fully.

Friday afternoon we went to Oland, a small island about nine miles off. Here also we had a house full of attentive and interested listeners, whom we promised to visit again. We were then taken back to Alstrup by the kind friend who had conveyed us to Svendstrup. On Sunday over one hundred people came to our meeting in Renbæk, notwithstanding muddy roads. The melting influence of the Spirit of God was in our midst, and many hearts were deeply moved. In the afternoon, the people thronged to the large barn in Saltum, where we hold our meetings, and filled it. There were about five hundred present, among them the priest and three school-teachers. One of the school-teachers read an article he had written, which he regarded as giving arguments against keeping the seventh day and reasons for keeping Sunday. Many showed that they were displeased with it, by beginning to talk and to show signs of impatience.

After this article had been completely answered, the priest himself stepped forward and tried to explain to the people that it would not do thus to confine ourselves to the Bible. What would then become of the many customs which were recognized in the church? No; we must follow the Christian church, which is about two thousand years old, and which is led by the Spirit of God.

When this well-known Catholic claim had been made, he asked several questions in regard to faith and baptism, which were all answered by the plain word of God. I invited further inquiry, but at last they said they had no more questions to ask. I then asked the priest to give me a definite answer to two questions I wished to ask him: 1. Have you found any text in the Bible which commands us to keep the first day of the week, or which shows that God has blessed or sanctified that day? 2. Are not the ten commandments binding upon Christians in the new dispensation? To the first question he answered, “No, I have not.” To the second, “Yes, certainly.”

Thus our opponents publicly admitted that our views on these points were in harmony with the Bible. But if the ten commandments are binding upon Christians in the new dispensation, and if the word of God has not abolished or changed the Lord's Sabbath, we come to the indisputable conclusion that the seventh day is the Sabbath for Christians, and that we honor God by keeping it holy. But we serve God in vain by teaching such doctrines, which are the commandments of men. I then spoke about the great foundation for Christianity—love. I believe that the Lord blessed these words to the good of many souls, and that the efforts of the priest and his assistants to oppose our work have been instrumental in enlightening many in regard to the great truths of the Bible, and in opening hearts and doors to us.

The people here in general receive the truths of the second advent of Christ, and the gospel of his death and resurrection finds a welcome response in many hearts; but old customs and habits are much stronger here than in America, and people do not forsake that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good, very readily. But we will labor on patiently, and hope through the grace of God to gather in souls for his kingdom. JOHN G. MATTESON.