Ringsted, Denmark by John G. Matteson

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 13, 1878

Ringsted, Denmark.

By John G. Matteson

WE arrived at Sjælland last Thursday. I have held two meetings at Ordrup, at the house of a brother of Brother Anders Petersen, Iowa; and I have visited several friends who believe in the truth. There are some Sabbath-keepers here, but they are rather scattered. One brother who lives north of Sorö has kept the Sabbath more than four years. Another brother in Ordrup has kept it two and a half years. There is one more Sabbath-keeper in Ordrup and two at Ringsted.

Our opponents dislike to have us so particular concerning the Sabbath (though we do not consider the other commandments of any less importance; would that we could regard them all much more sacred than we do!); but we do not make void the law through faith. Rom. 3: 31. We believe that it is the love of God that we keep his commandments, 1 John 5: 3; and we know that the Papacy has tried to change times and laws, Dan. 7: 25; and that we worship God in vain by teaching for doctrines the commandments of men--commandments which God has not given. Matt. 15: 9. We are therefore very happy sometimes to find a faithful soul who loves the Lord's Sabbath. For we can in no better way show our love for God than by trying continually to do his will as we find it revealed in his holy word.

We have received a letter from the brethren in Alstrup and Tylstrup. They assemble every Sabbath to receive strength and encouragement from the word of God. We consider it our duty to try to encourage the few souls at Sejælland, who have the same precious faith as we, and, as far as God will give us grace and opportunity, to preach the Second Advent to our dear countrymen on this island. It is quite difficult for us to work in a place altogether strange to us; but we try to rely upon the living God, who is the only one that can save souls, and who can cause his down-trodden and despised truth to shine forth among the people of the last generation.

We have rented a small room in this city, and intend to stay here for the present.

JOHN G. MATTESON.

Ringsted, May 15, 1878.