DENMARK by John G. Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 25, 1878

DENMARK

By John G. Matteson

ASTRUP, MARCH 25.—I have spent the past week with the friends in Tylstrup, and our meetings have, through the mercy of God, been blessed to the good of souls. We have also held a few meetings at a brother’s house in Nörrehede, in the parish of Ö. Brönderslev. Tuesday afternoon we met in a barn, as there was not room to seat the audience (about one hundred) in the house. The parish priest, who was said to be a highly educated and very friendly man, met with us.

He said he had come as spokesman for his flock, to inquire of me what the difference was between his teachings and ours, and wanted opportunity to reply. He thought he had a right to demand this, as I was holding meetings in his parish, and teaching doctrines different from those of the State Church. He said he had heard both good and bad reports about me, and he wished to know what was true.

I answered that it was a great pleasure for me to accede to his request, and that it would rejoice me much if the priest in every place where I labored would come to me with the same demand.

At first I brought out different points in Christianity on which I knew we were agreed, and called his attention to the fact that we were perfectly agreed on these points. But as regards the Sabbath of the Lord his people and mine were not agreed; for we keep the seventh day according to the commandments of God, but they observe a day which the Lord has never instituted as a day of rest.

Then followed some lively testimonies on this subject from both sides. He excused himself by saying that he did not wish to combat with the word of God as a weapon, because he did not know as his memory was good enough for that; and finally he virtually admitted that what I had said on this subject was truth; namely,—

That Sunday is not set forth in the word of God as the Sabbath or a holy day.
That the observance of Sunday is simply a custom which is not binding on the conscience according to the word of God.
That the decalogue was given in order that man might see and repent of his sins, and therefore it is not abolished.
That the early Christian churches in Jerusalem observed the seventh day as the Sabbath.
That our Saviour kept the seventh day and none other; that this was his custom, and that we should follow his example.
That there is nothing ceremonial or Mosaic connected with the Sabbath of the Lord; for it was instituted at creation, before the fall.

All his eloquent words about Christian liberty and beautiful customs evaporate like dew before the morning sun, when he makes such admissions as these. And this every one will admit who believes that the word of God is of greater importance than the word of man, and that Christ is not the minister of sin, and that he has not by his redemption given us liberty to sin or to transgress the holy commandments of God; but that he, on the contrary, writes the law of God in our hearts, so that this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2.

The priest said that if any became convinced that the seventh day was the Sabbath, then they also ought to observe it, and that diligently.

After that he wished me to present our doctrine and faith in regard to baptism and the Lord’s supper. We were entirely in harmony about the signification of these ordinances, and he admitted that the method we use is in accordance with the word of God. He thought that it was a matter of indifference whether the customs used in the church, and which are not mentioned in the Bible, were followed or not. Every one might do as he pleased. He preferred, of course, to have the children baptized in their infancy, but this was left to every one’s own convictions.

Then he said that he did not know as I cared to hear his meaning, but he would, nevertheless, state to me and the audience, that it had been a pleasure for him to converse with me. He could not discover but that I taught a good Christian doctrine, and he was pleased to see that I showed a Christian demeanor.

Finally I gave a short exhortation, and endeavored to impress upon the audience that the principal part of religion does not consist in doctrines and knowledge, but in turning from darkness to light, from the service of the wicked one to God; that we every day stand in danger of the impending Judgment; and that the great day of God is near, when the hidden things of the heart shall be revealed. Then shall he that doeth the will of God abide forever. 1 John 2. The Spirit of the Lord affected many hearts, and the priest thanked me at the close of the meeting, and said that he had been edified.

This has strengthened the believers here very much, and has become a matter of thought for many others. May the Lord save more and more from the unhappy chains of unbelief and sin, and may sinners be converted to the glory of his name.

Our Bible-class, Sabbath-school, and prayer-meeting have been greatly blessed this week. About sixty persons attended the meeting Sabbath afternoon.

The prayer-meetings in Astrup are not as well attended when I am away, yet there are some who come together every Sabbath and try to draw near to the Lord and encourage one another. Yesterday there were about two hundred persons present in the meeting-house. I preached on the subject of the law in Galatians. We wish to express our thanks to Bro. Canright for the light he has given us on this subject. We hope the readers of the TIDENDE will be benefited by the translation we have made of the article on this subject.

TYLSTRUP, APRIL 1.—The Lord has helped us in our labors. The truth of God has made some advancement. There are now thirty persons here who observe the Sabbath of the Lord. We continue to labor on in hope.

JOHN G. MATTESON.