ABYSSINIAN SABBATH-KEEPERS.
It has been known to all historians, who have cared to chronicle the fact, that the Abyssinian Christians have never ceased to observe the Sabbath. More than fifty years ago the Seventh-day Baptists in America planned to open a mission in Abyssinia, in order to come into closer touch with these ancient Christians. It was found, however, that communication between the coast and the interior was so uncertain and difficult at that time, that the project was reluctantly abandoned, and the enterprise was transferred to Shanghai, China, where the mission is now being vigorously carried on. The appearance of the following from the king of the Abyssinians recalls much that is of deep interest in connection with that people:— [Negus Menelik, of Abyssinia, addressed the following remarkable letter to Mr. F. S. R. Clarke, an English missionary, on February 3.] You are mistaken in believing that I do not care for your prayers. All prayers of believers are dear to me, even when they come from the children of Europe. Not all are aggressors in my kingdom; not all commit the iniquity of attacking those whom they hope to find weaker than themselves; not all have bent the knee before Baal, the god of destruction and the slaughter of brothers. Many, I am sure, still truly adore the God of the cross, the God of justice and of peace. With them I feel in perfect communion of faith, and I am happy that they pray for me, for my household and my people. I only wish that they would make truth dwell in the sanctuary, and that, instead of a mutilated Gospel, which explains the confusion and the infidelity of the people of Europe, they would return and lead others back to the true Gospel, which began with the creation of the world. By what right do they efface the whole portion of it which precedes the coming of Jesus Christ, and have they done away with what God established for all time? What you call the Old Testament is as true as the New, and what is contained in it must be respected and observed by those who follow Jesus and the apostles, announced by the prophets. Never did Jesus abolish the distinctive mark of his race, since he was subjected to it by his holy mother on the eighth day. To suppress thus what God established “from age to age and from forever to forever,” is to weaken the faith, is to furnish the same spectacle shown by the Christians of Europe. It is not only without that they use violence, but also within, against the Jews, who are, nevertheless, Christian souls, and to whom we owe our Saviour. There are more than 300,000 of them in my kingdom, and, tho they enjoy almost complete independence, they are obedient and industrious subjects. They never conspire, pay all tributes, and respect our Abuna as much as do the Christians. If they are worse in Europe, it is because the Christians, too, are worse. Our Lord Jesus forgave them on the cross. Why should we persecute them? You, at least, do not persecute them. May the other Christians of Europe imitate you. What you need is to return to our God, to observe all his ordinances, and to no longer separate Moses and the prophets from the apostles, or St. Peter from St. Paul. Whoever wishes to serve God must humble himself and obey. You know that, envoy of God. Teach it in Europe and Asia. I am having it taught in Africa. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. MENELIK. The just and trenchant criticism of the7king upon the “mutilated Gospel” of European Christians is as keen as it is deserved. No-Sabbathism and Sunday observance do indeed mutilate the Gospel in a fundamental and most destructive way. Study what this dark-skinned king of the mountains says.—Evangel and Sabbath Outlook.