SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS AND SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.
By John Nevins Andrews
God made the Sabbath to commemorate the creation of the heavens and the earth. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord. Because the Creator rested on that day, he set it apart to a holy use, and made it the sacred duty of all intelligent human beings to hallow his rest-day. The gospel of Christ has never changed this precept. It is still a part of the moral law, and will never cease to be a part of man's duty toward God while the law of God shall exist. It is deeply to be regretted that there are only two of all Christian denominations, the Seventh-day Baptists and the Seventh-day Adventists, that hallow the Sabbath of the Lord. These together constitute only a small portion of those who bear the name of Christian. Between these two bodies there are some doctrinal differences; but in practice they are not essentially different. However much they may desire to be at peace with other denominations, they cannot avoid considerable antagonism. The observance of the seventh day is in itself a rebuke to all those who neglect it. But this is not all. It is the duty of those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord to instruct those who do not keep it concerning this important duty. The effort to fulfill this duty toward others brings the Sabbath-keepers of necessity into collision with those who desire to perpetuate the present practice of walking contrary to the commandment of God. It is therefore inevitable that there should be controversy between those who obey and those who transgress the fourth commandment. But is it necessary that such should be the case between the two denominations that seek to obey all the precepts of the law of God? We think not. In several doctrinal points they differ, but in the matter of duty toward God they are agreed. In practice they are substantially one. God has placed upon these two bodies of Christians the duty of upholding the truth concerning his holy Sabbath, which all other men trample in the dust. Those engaged in this sacred work are in comparison with their adversaries like the army of Gideon in its conflict with the host of Midian. Shall there be strife between these two denominations that are alike loyal to the law of God? God forbid. The Seventh-day Adventists claim to have a special work to accomplish in the proclamation of the Bible Sabbath in connection with that of the doctrine of the near advent of Christ; but they recognize the Seventh-day Baptists as the lineal successors of the long line of witnesses by whom God has in all ages preserved the knowledge of his Sabbath in the earth. There is work for each of these denominations, and there is no need that they should be adversaries to each other. It is better to wait till there are fewer adversaries of the Sabbath and more that are its friends. The Seventh-day Adventists obtained a place as Sabbath-keepers at a great price; but the Seventh-day Baptists were free-born. There is but one thing in which they should provoke one another, and that is as to which shall most perfectly keep the commandments of God and most successfully teach them to others. But what shall we do with respect to the doctrines in which we differ? Shall we, for the sake of uniting the two denominations, sacrifice anything that either side believes to be Bible truth? By no means. A straight line is the shortest course in the moral world as well as in the natural. Let both parties walk in the light as God has given them to see it. Let both ask God to give them grace to see whatever of truth they do not now see. If this course be taken, truth will never be sacrificed to expediency, and bigotry will not make enemies of those who should be friends and helpers. We regret that differences of opinion with regard to doctrine exist. But as we have each our own organization, we can obey the truth as we understand it, without either denomination becoming responsible for what it deems error in the other. The question of the Sabbath is fast becoming a question that must engage the public attention. Is it not possible, is it not best, that its friends should be friends to each other? The friends of the Sabbath should not quarrel till the Sabbath itself becomes more universal. But do not the Seventh-day Adventists seek to break up the Seventh-day Baptist churches, and to gather the Baptists into the Adventist organizations? We regret that this has been done in a few instances in the past. But as we add nothing to the number of commandment-keepers by this, we have no wish to do any such work as that of weakening or pulling down the Seventh-day Baptist organization. We should indeed rejoice if the Seventh-day Baptists, while maintaining their own organization, could see with us that our Lord is soon to return. We hope this may yet be the case, but shall never try to hasten such a result by warfare between us and them. But do not the Adventists speak hard things of such of their number as go to the Baptists? We answer emphatically, No. We know of several who have done this in an honorable manner, and they have never had occasion to complain of hard words or unkind treatment from us. A recent case, however, has called out some unpleasant words. Perhaps it would have been better if the matter had passed unnoticed by us. But it is proper to say that the person in question has taken a course toward us which we are sure our Seventh-day Baptist brethren would not justify if they understood it. We do not esteem as valuable acquisitions men who come to us denouncing the Seventh-day Baptists, and we think our Baptist friends will form the same judgment in the end of those who go to them in this manner from us. It would be better to make some inquiry in all such cases before allowing such men to speak words of bitterness for the gratification of their own ill temper. We cannot afford to endanger the peace between our two bodies by giving to such men their say without knowing whether they are speaking justly or unjustly. We must sustain relations of some kind with the only other denomination besides ourselves which sanctifies the seventh day. It is far better that such relation should be friendly than unfriendly. The cause of the Sabbath should be dearer to us each than any mere denominational interest. We must have patience with each other's faults. We must seek earnestly to correct our own faults. The world is large enough for us both to do some work for God without constantly jostling each other. We are about to open a mission in Great Britain; but we hope to labor in that country in such a manner that we shall give no occasion of complaint to the Seventh-day Baptists. Bro. Wm. M. Jones, of London, has acted toward our European mission in the most honorable and Christian manner. He has taken a deep interest in the Seventh-day Adventists. But it is due to Eld. Jones to say that he is not an Adventist, but a Baptist. But as a friend of the Bible Sabbath, he rejoices at every effort made in behalf of the fourth commandment by whomsoever made. The writer has had the privilege of an intimate acquaintance with Eld. Jones. We have differed on some points, but without controversy. Eld. Jones has faithfully sought to promote the Seventh-day Baptist interest, while I have equally sought to promote that of the Seventh-day Adventists. Eld. Jones and the few Seventh-day Baptists of Great Britain have done an important work in behalf of the Sabbath. They have distributed many thousand copies of his Sabbath Memorial, and some millions of pages of Sabbath tracts. This good work he and they still carry forward with great interest. Eld. Wardner, during the period of his mission in Scotland, distributed an immense number of tracts, and saw the conversion of some valuable persons. In our work in Great Britain, we hope to treat the Seventh-day Baptists in such a manner that we shall be helpers to them and they to us. There are two churches, the remnants of the ancient Seventh-day Baptist churches of England. We would gladly see these little churches strengthened and enlarged. There must not be strife between us; for we are brethren. J. N. A.