WHY I KEEP THE SABBATH.
By A. B. Cushing
I THOUGHT that perhaps the readers of the REVIEW would like to hear a few words from this region of country concerning the advancement of the truth. There are some in Barford, Dixville, Eaton, Island Brook, and Hall Stream, P. Q., that are now keeping the Sabbath, and in the most of these places they have never heard any preaching upon this subject. Does it not seem a little wonderful that the Lord is moving upon the minds of his children by his Spirit to study the Scriptures with reference to this subject, leading so many in different places to see and embrace the truth in these last days? I always knew that the Bible reads that God rested on the seventh day, blessed, hallowed, and sanctified it, and many times called it his holy day; but I had supposed that it was in some way changed, always having been taught so, and I did not give it as careful and prayerful investigation as I should. But recently I have studied the Bible, and prayed earnestly for the truth upon this subject; and until I was fully convinced that the word of the Lord taught that the seventh day was the one that he would have all keep, I did not read any other book upon the subject. The scriptures that convinced me most, I will name in their order. The one scripture above all others that enlightened my mind was Jesus’ own words, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Matt. 5:17. Is not fulfill in this case exactly the opposite of to destroy? In this short verse Jesus says twice that he did not come to destroy; yet first-day keepers persist in saying that he did destroy. Paul says, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.” Rom. 3:31. Quite different from abolishing it. “Know ye not, brethren (for I speak to them that know the law), how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?” Rom. 7:1. As long as he liveth. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life.” Rev. 22:14. Jesus says, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matt. 19:17. One asked the Master what he should do to inherit eternal life. He said unto him, “What is written in the law?” Luke 10:26. When the blessed Saviour lay in the tomb, holy women rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. Luke 23:56. Says Jesus, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matt. 22:40. If the law or a part of it was done away, it could not all be said to hang on these two. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:3, 4. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” 1 John 5:3. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12:13. The above scriptures sent deep conviction to my heart that the fourth commandment was neither changed nor abolished. It does seem that the evidences are clear and conclusive that there is no command in the Bible for keeping the first day, but a plain and positive command, many times repeated, for keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, as well as all the rest of the ten commandments. I do thank the good Lord for the light. May the Lord by his Spirit and word enable the light so to shine that all his children may be convinced and receive the truth. And may we all have grace to walk in the light as He is in the light, that we may have fellowship one with another, and that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son may cleanse us from all sin. May the light shine more and more upon our pathway, unto the perfect day, and we be sanctified through the truth; and the truth shall make us free. “Thy word is truth.” No one, to my knowledge, has ever preached a sermon on the Sabbath in this section. A. B. CUSHING.