Debate with Elder Cotton on the Sabbath Question
By I. Sanborn
On account of a heavy rain storm, I did not reach my appointment at Liberty Pole till sixth-day evening, and even then I was hindered from having meeting, by one Elder Cotton, Disciple, who had been holding meetings in the place for two weeks, on purpose to be ready to compel me to enter into a discussion with him on the Sabbath question. I affirmed that the Bible taught that the seventh-day Sabbath is binding upon all men. We debated this question four sessions of two hours each. He affirmed that the Bible teaches that the first day of the week was kept by the apostolic church as the day for public worship, and as such, should be observed by all Christians. We debated this question three evenings. The arguments in favor of Sunday were the same old story, except that the Elder admitted that the breaking of bread by Paul and the disciples, Acts 20:7, was only the partaking of a common meal, which was new to me. I showed from Ex. 31:13–18, that God said to the children of Israel that they should keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever. I also showed from Jer. 31:31, and Heb. 8:7–12, that God made the new covenant with the children of Israel, and that all that receive the blessings of the new covenant, even from among the Gentiles, are the children of Israel, and therefore must keep the Sabbath as the sign that God has sanctified them; and that every true Christian is a sanctified Israelite; and that God has made the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath a sign of that fact, which, according to God’s promise in Ex. 31:13, must continue as long as the new covenant, and will be kept by God’s new-covenant people, called by Paul, Israel. Gal. 6:16. “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” The Elder admitted that the argument I presented, showing so plainly the perpetuity of Israel, was correct, but claimed that the Sabbath was not binding upon them, notwithstanding God said they should keep the Sabbath throughout their generations. All the friends of truth are satisfied that the discussion did much good. The brethren and sisters were much strengthened, and we think much prejudice was removed. The next evening after the discussion we commenced our quarterly meeting, which was the first one in this church. Brethren from Victory, Bad Axe and Kickapoo Center were present, and we all shared largely of God’s free Spirit, especially on the Sabbath. On first-day, two were baptized and added to the church, and two more will be baptized next first-day, at Kickapoo. The church here have commenced the organization of a missionary society. An elder and deacon were ordained; so this church is now in a good condition to advance and grow in grace if they will only be faithful. There is no one thing that I know of that will sooner destroy the spirituality of a church than tardiness in getting together at the time appointed for meeting. For instance, we appoint nine o’clock Sabbath morning for prayer and social meeting. And the brethren and sisters come strolling along till ten or eleven, so that many do not get there till the prayer-meeting is past. Such meetings attended in that way are always lifeless, cold, indifferent meetings, and will soon destroy the influence and spirituality of any church. In 2 Tim. 4:2, Paul says, “Be instant in season.” But you say, This means the minister. I admit it, but does it not also include the people? It most certainly does; for why should God command the minister and not the people? Dear brethren and sisters, let us all be punctual in getting to meeting in time, and also in doing our duty after we get there. Thursday, Nov. 23, I commenced meetings at Kickapoo Center, preached five times, had an ordinance meeting, ordained an elder, and baptized three. Monday, the 27th, I traveled twenty-eight miles, and preached in the evening to the Sand Prairie church. This is one of the strongest churches in the Conference, not in numbers, but in real sound moral worth. They have been an organized church about ten years, and have had their trials; but by the careful management of their elder, and the blessing of God, they built their meeting-house, and have always kept up their Systematic Benevolence. And never to my knowledge have they had to call on a minister to help them out of any trouble. And they are now becoming much interested in the missionary work as suggested by Bro. White in a late REVIEW, and are organizing. The churches at Liberty Pole and Kickapoo have also organized themselves into missionary societies. I hope all the churches in the Conference will immediately take hold of the work, and feel stimulated to action by what the New England Conference has done and is doing. See Bro. White’s report in REVIEW Vol. 38, No. 22. I hope all our brethren in Wisconsin will reread it carefully, and then carry out the work as promptly as the New England Conference has, especially in collecting and paying all dues on the REVIEW AND HERALD. Since leaving Liberty Pole, I noticed in the Vernon Co. paper that Elder Cotton is not satisfied with the discussion, because he did not have the privilege of discussing the immortality question. He also insinuates that I used deception with him in order to avoid discussing the immortality question when we discussed the Sabbath question. But I told him plainly the reason I could not discuss that subject then was for want of time on account of other engagements. But if we can agree on propositions, I will discuss that question with him in their meeting-house in Viroqua at some future time. I arrived home, Nov. 28, to see to the wants of my deeply afflicted family. My wife is now suffering severely by the very painful returning cancer that we hoped was removed last winter. Just how long I shall be kept at home by this affliction, I know not, but will wait on the Lord to open the way for me. I will say, therefore, to the brethren in Wausband Co., Please be patient, trusting in the Lord to help you to get along without preaching for a while longer, and I will visit you again as soon as the way shall open, so that I can consistently leave my family again. I would ask all to pray for us, that the Lord may bring us through this affliction better than when we entered into it. I. SANBORN. Johnstown Center, Wis., Nov. 29, 1871.