Awakening to the Sabbath Truth
By Henry Lyon
DEAR BRO. WHITE;—Though I am a stranger to you, it is a pleasure to me to write a few words for your encouragement in the best of all causes. A short time since, Bro. Bates visited us, and found us belonging to a nominal Advent church, with a good portion of the spirit of the world. We were wholly neglecting to keep God's holy Sabbath, and I was almost persuaded that Pope's Sunday was not binding on us, and, therefore, no Sabbath to be kept. The doctrine of the Age to come has had its influence upon us. These things have brought spiritual death into the Advent ranks. Our main organ, the Harbinger, has partaken of the same spirit. We see but a very few of those heartfelt and stirring epistles that we have had in days gone by. Now we ask in all candor, what has brought about this state of things? It needs no prophet to divine the reason.—We have violated one of God's holy commandments. I thank God that the visit from Bro. Bates, and the paper, has been the means, in his hands, of opening my eyes to see his precious truth. I now see clearly that the Sabbath is binding. We have for a few weeks been trying to keep the commandments of God. In so doing, we find peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. It has a holy, sanctifying influence upon our lives.—It cuts us loose from this vain world. I cannot see how those who oppose us, can, with their Bibles in their hand, take such a stand against the fourth commandment. God instituted the holy Sabbath in Eden. Abraham kept the commandments, laws and statutes. The children of Israel kept the Sabbath before the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. Ex. xvi, 29, 30. The apostles met and worshiped on the Sabbath. The fathers continued to observe the Sabbath until the Roman power gradually changed the day of worship to Sunday.80Some tell us it was abolished at the crucifixion.—Paul tells us what was done away, which was the law of carnal ordinances, with the Jewish sabbaths. Col. ii, 14: Eph. ii, 15. Does not the New Testament call on us to keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus? Rev. xiv, 12. If God be God let us serve him; if the Pope be God let us serve him.—Let us be careful how we decide in this matter. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. My prayer to God is, that his people may be of one heart, and one mind, and go forward in the great work he has assigned them in these last days. How my heart bleeds when I see so much division, and such a hard, unchristian spirit manifested. As a specimen, see an Article in Harbinger, Vol. IV, No. 11, headed, "Vain Talkers." If we have done wrong, why not come to us in love, and in the spirit of the gospel? O, may God help us to be faithful and cry aloud, and spare not, that we may give a portion of meat in due season. We want the paper every week. I hope the brethren will see to this matter. Time is short. What is done must be done quickly. Yours waiting for the consummation of our blessed hope, HENRY LYON. Plymouth, Mich., Sept. 2d, 1852.