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 educated as a minister for the Protestant Episcopal Church, and for several years so served. Nearly every Sunday the Ten Commandments were read in connection with the service in the church, and after each commandment we chanted this petition: “Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.” Many a time I have sent that petition, from the bottom of my heart, to the throne of God, as it was my sincere desire to keep all the commandments of God. But I remember that many a time when we read the Fourth Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God,” etc., I was puzzled. I thought that, if God changed the Sabbath, why did He not tell us that plainly in the Bible? But these puzzled thoughts were quieted by the assurance that the apostles, who knew the mind of Christ, changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day to commemorate the resurrection of Christ; that the change was made gradually by the apostles and their immediate followers; and that a record of the change is found in church history. I studied church history three years, but never found the record of the Sabbath change. At last we met Brother Castberg, who indeed showed us from church history when the change was made. Church history shows plainly the fact that the change was made (not by the apostles or their immediate followers) in the fourth century, when the church had married the world. History tells us plainly that at that time the church, losing the Holy Spirit power, and seeking help from the State, allowed the change to be made in order to compromise with the heathen. Brother Castberg then showed us from the Bible that Christ and His apostles kept the seventh day as Sabbath; that the Lord changed not; and from much Scripture evidence that He will not alter the thing that is gone out of His lips; that Christ says that “the Sabbath was made for man.” I am a man—hence the Sabbath was made for me. These and many other evidences convinced me thoroughly that the seventh day is the Sabbath. I learned also that nearly all the promises of God, both in the Old and New Testament, were conditioned on doing the will of God, and keeping His commandments. My wife and I saw the truth, and obeyed at once. We have come to know our Bible better, we have received more Holy Ghost power, and are enjoying a double blessing by keeping all the commandments of God. JOHN J. WESTRUP.