Unwilling Testimony for the Sabbath.
By R. F. Cottrell
How many there are who have been almost persuaded to keep the Sabbath, and have confessed their convictions of the truth, but have, finally, found some argument that has quieted their troubled mind, and led them to think they can be saved in disobedience of the fourth commandment. How unconscious such persons are of the testimony they have thus borne in favor of the truth and against themselves. They must see, in the first place, strong arguments in favor of the Sabbath, or they never could have been convicted against all their prejudices and all their education from their infancy. I was taught the Sabbath from my youth, and, though surrounded with the advocates of the first day observance, I never felt the least conviction of sin because I did not keep it—never had a fear that I might be lost for disregarding it. And in all my acquaintance with Sabbath-keepers I never knew a case of a single individual being thus convicted. This shows where the truth lies, and every person whose early education has been thus shaken—who have had fears that they would be condemned for not keeping God's sanctified Rest-day, have borne a testimony, however unwillingly it may be, in favor of the truth. Who ever heard of a Christian being convinced that he ought to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses? I never knew such an instance. Did you?—And what is the reason? Because there is no evidence for it in the word of God. And why are men convicted, against all the prejudices of education, that they have been taught wrong concerning the Sabbath? Because there is abundant evidence in the Bible, that the Sabbath was made at creation,—that it was made for man, and is a part of that law, the transgression of which, the apostles declare to be sin. Dear reader, listen to your own convictions which come by hearing God's truth. Do not try to argue them down, that you may rest satisfied in disobedience, and so find, when it is too late to retrace your steps, that you have disregarded the word of truth, and the voice of enlightened conscience, and borne a testimony that will rise up against you and condemn you. Will it not be said to you, Out of your own mouth will I judge you? O, turn to the truth and live! while the long-suffering of God is waiting in the third angel's message, for your salvation. The Sabbath is a plain truth—a truth that all, learned and unlearned, can understand. How fitting it is that God's people should be tested by just such a truth, to draw the final, separating line between them that serve God, and them that serve him not. O, be wise! Obey God's holy law. R. F. COTTRELL.