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Traverse Co., Mich

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 4, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 41, No. 8.

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Traverse Co., Mich.

By R. C. Downs

THERE are a few names of us here keeping the Sabbath. We have a small church, organized by Brn. Strong and Milk. We keep up our prayer-meetings and Sabbath-school, which are very interesting and edifying. We are truly thankful that we have been permitted to hear these blessed and sacred truths; also that we have been enabled to receive them into our hearts, where we trust they will spring up and bear fruit to the honor and glory of God.
These brethren commenced a series of lectures here last August. For some time, the people apparently listened with deep interest, and some gave expressions of approbation. Even the pastor of the M. E. church highly approved of two of Bro. Strong’s lectures. All moved on fairly until the Sabbath was taken up, when the pastor withdrew. He said he was sorry he had listened to any of their lectures, and he did hope the church-members would stay away. But some of us concluded that we were not under a pope, and that if the truth would not bear investigation we would see it go down. But, praise to Him who ruleth high over all, a few of us had the scales picked loose; and the fogs of theological mystery began to clear away, and we set to work in earnest, praying for light and help to search out the truth. As the result, we found that we were breaking the commandments of God, especially the fourth commandment.
I am astonished that this commandment has been so long neglected, or overlooked; and that so few, comparatively, are willing to listen to any testimony brought to substantiate the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Why is it that those who have listened, and have become convinced that the seventh day is the Sabbath, will not come up honestly and walk out in the truth? They dare not violate the customs of their fathers and the laws of the State. But what do we see them doing? Transgressing the holy law of God, trampling his holy Sabbaths under their feet, fearing a little disarrangement in their business transactions, or the disapprobation of brother or sister so-and-so. But it is said, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
R. C. Downs.
Jan. 12, 1873.