IS IT NOT TYRANNY?

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jul 22, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 28.

IS IT NOT TYRANNY?

THE faithful Seventh-day Adventist devotes to God in the keeping of the Sabbath one-seventh part of his time, and he does this willingly. He pays for the support of the ministry (not grudgingly or of necessity, but of a willing mind) one-tenth of his income. He gives for foreign missionary work, for home missions, and for Sabbath-school, an amount equal to from one-third to one-half of what he pays as tithe. Consequently two-sevenths of his time is devoted to the Lord. His conscience and love of God demand more rather than less. He does it all willingly, and wishes he could do more. The rest of his time goes to the necessary support of his family. He is strictly honest in his deal, upright in life, chaste in conversation.

Yet such an individual as this, National Reform proposes to deprive of another seventh of his time, simply because the majority believe in Sunday. They are not hindered in keeping whatever day they please, but the minority must submit to an institution in which it has no faith. The majority cannot persuade; therefore they would compel. Is it not tyranny and persecution? Is it not robbery? And yet it is ever so with religion based on falsehood. The apostolic church did not persecute; neither will any other built on the same foundations, after the same true plan. Paul said, “We persuade men.” National Reformers say, “We would compel them.”