DEAR BROTHER: Once more I feel as though my heart beat in unison with the true church of God, but I feel almost ashamed to write, yet I must, for I feel it my duty so to do. I am heartily sorry that I ever was so weak as to give heed to the foolish slander of others. I was left to believe that if these things were true, those that kept the Sabbath were not right.—But it came to me again, What if these are true, what has this to do with the truth? Truly thought I, that will not prove that the Sabbath commandment is done away.
But many passages of scripture were brought up to me, to prove that the Sabbath was done away in Christ, such as these: "Christ is the end of the law," "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or drink, or in respect of an holy-day, or of the new-moon, or of the sabbath-days," "He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto the Lord, and he that regardeth not the day to the Lord, he doth not regard it." And also, "I stand in doubt of you, ye observe days, and months, and years," "We that believe do enter into rest," and many others were quoted to prove that there was no Sabbath.
In fact, I have not kept any day, although I have not labored on Sunday; but I did not believe that Sunday was the Sabbath of the Lord our God. And I have always contended that if there was a Sabbath binding on us, the seventh-day brethren had the truth, and my heart has always been with them so far.
But I did not feel contented with my condition. I felt as though they were going onward, while I was sinking. When I read the Review and Herald I would almost burst into tears. I wanted to be with them, but I knew not how to begin. I was ashamed to tell them my feelings for fear they would never have confidence in me again. I felt alone, and sad, for I was cast out from the Nominal Adventists; but that I cared not for; for I knew that they were cold and lifeless. I wandered on Sunday to seek the word of the Lord, but did not find it, and I had almost a mind to give up in despair. But I knew if I did, I should be lost. Then I thought, will they receive me and love me again if I return.
I came to the conclusion that I would keep the seventh-day Sabbath, and say nothing to any one, but stay at home, or go into the wilderness every Sabbath, read the Bible, and pray alone until the High Priest came out from the wedding. Then this passage came to me, "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching."
My no-Sabbath doctrine was swept away, and I found myself in a snare that was set for me by the Devil. Some voice seemed to say to me, "Let thine heart be toward the highway, even the way that thou wentest turn again, for this is the way, walk ye in it." I know that the seventh-day brethren have the truth on the ten commandments, for Christ says, "Whosoever, shall do and teach them, shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." And I have been thinking who upon the earth can I find that are teaching the commandments of God. Are the Baptists? No. Are the Methodists? No. Are the Congregationalists? No. Who are then? Does the Advent Herald? No, it does not try to enforce them at all. Does the Harbinger? No, I do not know as that paper ever said a word in favor of keeping the commandments.—Does the Advent Watchman teach them? No, it does not. It has never told us to keep the commandments. Then who does teach them? O, I have found them now. Who are they? It is the despised seventh-day people. With them I will go, if they will forgive me, and accept of my company. These words of Christ are precious to me: "Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more."
O, praise the Lord, I do believe that you have the Ark of God among you, and there is power in it. See Jordan stop her course before the Ark of God! See what destruction it made among the Philistines while it was among them; and they were glad to send it back to its place. Yes, if the Ark is with us, one shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight. We can see the Ark, for Christ has opened the door into the holiest, where it is kept, and we see our Great High Priest in there also, who is cleansing the Sanctuary, Glory, Alleluiah, Amen. The load has gone from my soul. O, shall I ever grieve Him again! Forgive me, and try me once more. I love to be where God's Spirit is. I want to be in the Philadelphia church. I believe this is the people that do understand. Daniel says, "the wise shall understand."—Now I will try to do his commandments, and then I can teach them. They tell me that love is the fulfilling of the law; but I do believe, to love God and break his divine law is impossible; for he says, "If ye love me keep my commandments." This I will try to do through grace.
From your unworthy brother,
Chicopee Falls, Mass. DEXTER DANIELS.