North Saltum, Denmark by John G. Matteson

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 11, 1877

North Saltum, Denmark.

By John G. Matteson

ABOUT two hundred people attended our meeting in this place on Tuesday. Another school-teacher brought up some objections to our views. Among other things he tried to prove that the commandments of God are too grievous to be kept, and not only that, but that they are so grievous that speaking of them must not be tolerated.

We referred to the testimony of the beloved apostle John: “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” Why should we teach or regard the commandments of God, if we do not strive to live them out as well as we, by the grace of God, are able to do? Therefore our Saviour also says in regard to the commandments , that “whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:19.

He then said that the Pharisees have burdened the Sabbath with thirty-nine ordinances, and if it should now be burdened with three times as many, it could not be borne. We answered that it was our aim to rid the Sabbath of the provisions of man, and it would be well if the above-mentioned and all other human ordinances and customs could be separated from the worship of God, and we could conform ourselves to the plain word of God.

The sermon which was given after that, on the subject of the Cross, made a deep impression upon the people. Most of them are willing to hear, and acknowledge the authority of the word of God.

On the Sabbath we met in Alstrup, and Sunday afternoon about two hundred were assembled in Svendstrup, five miles from Alstrup. I am now at this place, on my way to Holstebro and Fano. I have appointed meetings again in Saltum in two weeks, and will then continue to labor in this vicinity. I have been promised a hall situated in a very favorable place, and hope, through the blessing of God, to be able to push the work forward.

We hold all our meetings in the daytime, and I think we can continue to do so the whole winter in the country. This is much better than holding evening meetings. The leading men in society second our efforts, and the Baptists are also drawing nearer to us and are very friendly. JOHN G. MATTESON.