The Sabbath Gains Adherents
By E. S. Sheffield
DEAR BRO. WHITE: Though a stranger personally, yet I feel that I can address you as a brother in the Lord; for I believe you are doing the Lord’s work in publishing his truth to the world. Receive my thanks for the paper you have so kindly sent me.—I find it contains many precious truths, especially in regard to the Sabbath. The articles of O. R. L. Crozier reviewed by Bro. J. N. Andrews, have had a good effect here. Those who keep the Sabbath have read them with pleasure and consolation, as they have seen the Sabbath of the Lord our God maintained and upheld by such abundant scripture testimony, yea, more than double what we thought could be produced in its favor. At the commencement of last March there were none in this place that kept the seventh-day Sabbath, excepting two families of seventh-day Baptists. Now there are ten families besides these, that rest the Sabbath-day according to the commandment, the most of which are interested in the third angel’s message. Sabbath arguments had been presented here before, but they did not arouse my attention so but that I could slumber over the subject until Bro. Phelps came here to preach, the first of March last. I went to hear him to gratify my curiosity, and with the intent to ridicule his position. When he presented the bible testimony relative to the Sabbath, it was too plain to make a subject of ridicule. After once hearing, I was anxious to hear again on the whole subject; and after hearing the second time, I could no longer reject these truths without feeling condemned. I resolved then and there, that from thence forward I would keep the Sabbath of the Lord. I thank and praise the Lord that I could feel to say, I will not fear what man can say or do unto me, but will rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. I fully believe the time is at hand, when the dragon will be wroth with the woman, and will make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ; and that the patience of the saints will soon be tried to the utmost, when they will be ordered on pain of death to worship the beast or his image, and receive his mark. But I do not feel discouraged. I know that my Redeemer liveth. Yours in hope that when He shall appear, we shall be like him,
E. S. SHEFFIELD.
Fort Atkinson, Wis., Aug. 14th, 1852.