Facts for the Candid by J. M. Gallimore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 8, 1877

Facts for the Candid.

By J. M. Gallimore

There are those who are ready to deny facts, but facts denied are nevertheless facts. There are those who do not want facts, and such are most generally ready to deny them; but there are those who want facts, and are willing to accept of them. From such the following facts will find a hearty welcome:—

On the first seventh day of time, after God had finished his work of creation, he rested; and because he had rested on the seventh day, he did bless and sanctify the day. It is a fact, then, that the seventh day is God’s Sabbath or rest-day; the fourth commandment and the Bible throughout declare as much. Now, is it not plain to every candid and intelligent mind, that to make another day the Lord’s Sabbath or rest-day, another work and another rest would have to be gone through by the Lord. Has such a thing been done?

The Lord did not rest on the first day of the week, neither did the Saviour of mankind; therefore the first day of the week is not the Sabbath of the Lord, nor of the Saviour. The first day of the week can be nothing more than a Sabbath instituted by man. God has instituted a Sabbath (the seventh day), and man has instituted a Sabbath (the first day). Candid reader, whom are you serving, or whom do you intend serving, God or man?

If you have not already learned the fact, learn it now, that the Holy Bible, by which Protestants profess to be guided, knows no other weekly Sabbath than the seventh day. The Saviour of mankind observed no other. None of the writers of the New Testament, nor any of the followers of the Saviour, observed any other; but the seventh day they did observe. The holy Record not only shows that they observed it, but that they observed it at least as late as sixty years this side of the cross. Writing as late as A. D. 63, they invariably and unqualifiedly call the seventh day the Sabbath of the Lord, and no other day do they call by that name.

Now, the seventh day being the Lord’s Sabbath, and being made for man (all men), is it not for Gentiles as well as Jews? And being made some thousands of years before the existence of Jews, how can we call it strictly Jewish? It is emphatically, unmistakably, the Sabbath or rest-day of the great Jehovah; and it is as clearly commanded to be kept by all mankind.

It is a fact that first-day sacredness cannot be traced back farther than the edict of the then heathen Emperor Constantine, A. D. 321, which edict compelled persons living in towns and cities to observe “the venerable day of the sun,” while it allowed those in the country to attend to the pursuits of agriculture. But the Council of Nice, three years later, did decree that Sunday be kept still more sacred than did the decree of Constantine. Thus we see the beginning of Sunday sacredness; thus we see that the Roman Catholic church, the mother of harlots, and not the Saviour or the apostles, is the author of Sunday observance.

This presuming power, attempting, as it has, to change the law of God, is emphatically the power referred to in Dan. 7: 25. This anti-Christian power, claims as the mark of its power, the fact that it did change the Sabbath, and that Protestants recognize, and allow the change. Antichrist then claims his Sunday Sabbath as the mark, or sign, of his power and authority. God, on the other hand, claims his Sabbath (the seventh day) as his sign, or seal.

Prior to the coming of the Son of man the second time, which event is near at hand, the Bible teaches very plainly that a warning and gathering message is to go forth, and connected with this message is a warning against receiving the mark of the beast (Rev. 14), which beast, as allowed by Protestants generally, is the Roman Catholic Church. This mark of the beast is received after the warning message goes forth, and is stubbornly rejected in the full light of Revelation and all the connected facts. Before the close of this message, those hearing the message must choose whom they will serve, God or the man of sin; whom they will fear, God or man.

Will the readers of the above facts candidly consider them, and no longer walk in accordance with the traditions of men, but come out and take their stand squarely and manfully on the side of the Bible and on the side of truth; no longer take the judgment of others, but in a matter so important as that of salvation, think and act for themselves? Facts are what the candid want. But, alas! how few are willing to deal candidly with their own souls! How few there are who do not love error more than truth! how few who do not love darkness rather than light!

Truly we have fallen upon evil times, when men refuse to see that truth is precious, or to exchange error for it. Yet, the Lord be thanked, there are many honest souls who will yet rejoice to see the truth, and to change from the traditions of men to the commandments of God.

J. M. GALLIMORE.

Salisbury, Mo.