How They Became Convinced
By Editor
[Believing it would be of interest to our readers, the editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES has asked Sabbath-keeping ministers and evangelical workers to tell in a few words the scripture or scriptures, the truths and principles, which constrained them to accept the unpopular truth of the seventh-day Sabbath. These testimonies must not exceed 500 words. Let us hear from all.] ABOUT two years ago I became interested in the subject of the coming of the Lord. I began to read the Revelation, but got only a few thoughts that satisfied me. I asked our minister if the beast that received a wound unto death, yet was healed, was not the Roman Church, and he thought I was mistaken in the application. Then by chance the book entitled "The Coming King" fell into my hands. I read it twice, and began to see that some of my thoughts on reading the Revelation were not so far from right after all. I then approached another minister and spoke of the subject, but he treated me quite coolly, and said that the Revelation was a sealed book, and the time of its opening was yet far in the future. After this a kind lady in our town, learning that I had become interested in this line of thought, gave me the book entitled, "The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan," which I read with much interest. Then she gave me another book, entitled, "The Desire of Ages," from which I received light that I never had enjoyed before. I then spoke to two other ministers on the subject, but they were in the dark, and objected to the views that I suggested. I have lately read the book, "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation," and find that our faith is greatly strengthened by another witness. I never had such faith in the Word before. When I saw the light on the fourteenth chapter of Revelation, I could not talk about it for several days. My cry was, O God, is this true? and I have lived fifty-six years and only learned it now! When I came to see the light on the true Sabbath, and duty made so plain, I could no longer resist the Word of God. I made a complete surrender, and let the world do as it will, I shall endeavor to live up to the light of the Word. I am nearly blind, and I believe that God has overruled the affliction for my good, as through it I have been brought to the light. P. B. GILBERT. I WAS a member of the Christian Church, when two members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, both my friends, visited me at my house. I thought their doctrine the worst kind of foolishness, and undertook to prove to them that they were wrong. I thought to show them that it was right to observe Sunday; but, instead of proving that they were wrong, the Bible showed me that the seventh day is the holy Sabbath of the Lord. Having been convinced on this point, other new light on the subject opened up faster than I could take it in. So my wife accepted the truth a year before I did, because I was afraid people would laugh at me. Now I can not see why people do not take Christ at His Word. The Bible says that "sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4), and that "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). It also says that "where no law is, there is no transgression" (chapter 4:15), and that "sin is not imputed when there is no law" (chapter 5:13). Then if the law were done away, we would have no more sin; and if no sin, then no death. But we see death all around, so there must be sin; and as there is sin, the law of God must be in force, for it is only the transgression of God's law that is sin (chapter 7:7). The law of God says "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord." But no divine law says anything about the first day being sacred. Every man should read the Bible for himself. THOS. R. COX.