The Sabbath Question and Religious Liberty
This matter is not a question affecting this one man merely, nor a denomination of 100,000 conscientious Christians, nor one State, nor one country; it affects the world. The Sabbath question is a vitally important world question. In it is involved the veracity, the infallibility as a moral standard, of Holy Writ. In it are involved the authority of God's Word and the example of Jesus our Lord as against tradition and apostasy. In its decision is involved the very existence of Protestantism. Shall the question be decided by the Bible or by tradition? by the Spirit of God upon men's hearts, or by man-made laws? In it is involved the future of civil government. If the government and people shall choose the side of tradition and religious legislation, they set themselves against the eternal principles of religious liberty which have their springs in God, their nourishment in true Protestantism; and whoever or whatever rushes against the thick bosses of God's buckler of truth is bound to go down. The government which leaves conscience free, and protects the man, and conserves his rights, will endure. Where will you stand?