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.] WHY I ACCEPTED THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH.
1. Because in childhood and youth I was taught by a Presbyterian mother that the ten commandments were binding; and having learned afterward that they were not only binding, but unchangeable, it became evident that the seventh day is still the Sabbath of the Lord. To be a consistent Presbyterian, I must keep the Sabbath enjoined in the law of ten commandments. 2. Because in after years I became a Baptist, and the Baptist doctrinal watchword is, “Thus saith the Lord.” The Word of God says, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God;” therefore, in order to be a consistent Baptist, I must observe the Sabbath that is backed by His Word. 3. Because I am a Protestant. The observance of the first day of the week was foisted upon the Christian Church by the tradition of men. Catholics acknowledge that the Sabbath of the Bible is the seventh day of the week, and that Sunday observance rests solely on the authority of the Roman Church. A consistent Protestant can not observe any institution that ignores the Scriptures of truth and stands on Roman tradition. 4. Because I wanted to be a child of God, and the seventh-day Sabbath is the established “sign” or token, between God and His children forever. Ex. 31:13-17; Eze. 20:12, 20. I wanted to be reckoned with the Israel of God, as the Gentiles—as such—are “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” Eph. 2:11, 12. The seventh-day Sabbath is part of the everlasting covenant with Abraham and his Seed, in whom all the promises of God are yea, and amen. Only the spiritual seed are reckoned as the Israel of the covenant-promise. Gal. 3:29; Phil. 3:3. God’s covenant never changes (Ps. 89:34), nor will one jot or one tittle of His law fail. Matt. 5:17, 18. Therefore, as “the Word of God endureth forever” (1 Peter 1:25), it was evident to my mind that the Sabbath of His Word also endureth without end. See Isa. 66:22, 23. W. N. GLENN. WHAT CONVINCED ME ON THE SABBATH.
In studying the Sabbath question from the New Testament Scriptures I became convinced from Luke 23:53 to 24:1, that Jesus was crucified on preparation day, that the Sabbath drew on, that the women which came with Him from Galilee followed and saw where His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. The only commandment I can find to rest, was on the Sabbath, which I found to mean the seventh day of the week. After the women had rested according to the commandment, upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they went to the sepulcher, and took the spices which they had prepared on preparation day, what they would not do on the seventh day, and after resting the seventh day, went to finish their labor of love on the first day of the week. Then the question came to my mind, “Who were these women?” Undoubtedly the disciples of Jesus. Were they followers of Jesus, in keeping the seventh-day Sabbath? I soon became convinced that Jesus kept the seventh-day Sabbath, because there is no other weekly Sabbath known to the Bible. Next the question came to my mind, “Would Jesus keep the seventh-day Sabbath if He were here on earth now?” I became convinced that He would, because He is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.” Heb. 13:8. This brought to my mind for the first time in life, the fact, that the Bible does not name the days of the week, but simply numbers them. Then the conviction came upon me with irresistible power, that whatever Jesus did, I ought to do, if I would be His disciple; and I saw at once that I must either keep the Sabbath or give up the Bible. I had been preaching the Gospel the best I knew how for over twenty years, and could not give up the Bible; so I gladly accepted the Sabbath, and with it the blessing and “peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” G. B. DOUGLASS. San Francisco, Cal.