How They Became Convinced
[Believing it would be of interest to our readers, the editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES has asked Sabbath-keeping ministers and evangelical workers to tell in a few words the scripture or scriptures, the truths and principles, which constrained them to accept the unpopular truth of the seventh-day Sabbath. These testimonies must not exceed 500 words. Let us hear from all.] I was raised a Catholic, and was taught not to read the Bible. My parents always kept a Bible as a precious treasure, but not as a book of instruction. One day I stole out the Bible and read some of the teachings of Christ, also the commandments, which greatly astonished me. The next Sunday I stole off to a Protestant church, and listened very attentively. After the service the minister took his stand at the door for a hand-shake, and I waited so as to be one of the last to approach him. When I grasped his hand there seemed to be a touch of warm welcome, and tender love in his salutation. Then I asked him if I could not get a Bible from him. “Yes, to be sure, brother,” was his kind reply. I got the Bible, and I have kept it to this day. Inside of three months I made it known to my parents and brothers and sisters that I had become a Protestant. This was not very pleasing news to them, and they made it very unpleasant for me also for a while. But in the strength of Christ, I fought the battle long and hard, and the result is that to-day we are all keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. When I began to study my Bible, I kept it in the grain house, and studied it at night, by lantern light. At last, when the battle was the hottest, my sister sent for a priest to bring me back to the fold; but I had the Gospel gun loaded, and gave him the good truth so fast that he had no time to say anything but that he was sorry that I was accursed. So he left me in my “lost state,” but, glory to God in the highest, I won the battle. Thanking T. O. Saxton, of Horton, Pa., for bringing me a sample copy of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, I am, yours truly, S. S. STURGEN.