Labor Rewarded by Mrs. W. E. Dawson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1875

Labor Rewarded.

By Mrs. W. E. Dawson

“CAST thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.” Let not the faithful follower of Christ be weary in well doing, or cease to proclaim the truth of God because the fruits of labor do not immediately appear. If Paul plant and Apollos water, sooner or later God will give the increase.

It may be that our own experience during the past four years was necessary in order to teach us lessons of patience and perseverance in presenting the truth to others. Four years ago my husband and myself were members of an orthodox church in Southern Iowa. We heard the preaching of Brn. Canright and Butler, and became convinced that Sunday had no claim to sanctity. We then kept the true Sabbath for several weeks, and thought we should keep it always. But alas, for human strength! Satan led us to believe the delusive no-Sabbath theory. Because we could not find that any direct command to observe the Sabbath or plain denunciation against Sabbath-breaking had been given since the time of Christ, we concluded there could be no Sabbath in the gospel dispensation.

Since that time we have felt dissatisfied with our situation. One cannot have much religion without a Sabbath. We read the Bible but little, and seldom prayed. A few months ago, in talking over the matter, we were led to see that we had given up the Sabbath without thoroughly investigating the whole subject. Our false views rapidly disappeared, and through the influence of the Holy Spirit we were reconverted, and filled with a spirit of prayer and an earnest desire to know and to do all God’s requirements.

We trust we have now entirely consecrated ourselves to God and his service. We are studying the Bible with diligence, that we may know the whole truth. We have now so thoroughly considered the Sabbath question that there seems no possibility of any future change of opinion. We feel surprised at the overwhelming amount of testimony in regard to the everlasting and unchangeable character of the Sabbath and the perpetuity of all the precepts of the moral law. We rejoice that the good work is making such progress in all parts of the world. Surely it is the Lord’s doings, and his chosen people may take courage and press forward to labor with increasing zeal and activity in the cause of truth.

MRS. W. E. DAWSON.

Rush Co., Kansas.