Health Institute, Battle Creek, July, 1873
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Health Institute, Battle Creek, July, 1873
By H. A. Steinhauer
From Sister H. A. Steinhauer.
NINE months ago my attention was directed to the Sabbath question, and I soon found myself unable to observe the first day as I had been taught to do from my earliest childhood. Thinking that a seventh part of time was all that God intended and required, did not content me, so I kept the seventh day till I should be able to offer more satisfactory arguments for the observance of the first, feeling that I could not go far wrong in taking God's commandments as literal. My investigations, however, took all the ground from under my feet. The Sabbath being commemorative of the act of creation it would by no sensible person be construed or transferred to our Saviour's life, in celebration of his resurrection. Nor could I find Scripture proof for its observance during the apostolic age; even the testimony of the “Fathers” (when fairly presented) proving the contrary. In vain I tried to prove that the present seventh day was not in unison with the original, on which the Creator rested, and which he hallowed to our use. The “day-line,” and historic facts with regard to the manner of adding days to the year, took this last refuge of my first-day belief, compelling me to observe the seventh as the only possible Sabbath. That the Sabbath was made for man and not man for it, seemed far more true of the seventh-day Sabbath, than of the first, which is, in addition, made by man, instead of the “Lord of the Sabbath.” I also believe in the near coming of the Son of man. Being about to leave, I thought it right to make known the stand I have taken. Health Institute, Battle Creek, July, 1873