Learning the Truth About the Sabbath
By John A. Hardy
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I have been a reader of the Review since some time in February last, and am happy to say that wherein I was then blind, now I see. I thank the Lord that he has heard and answered prayer in behalf of the truth, and in sending his servants with food in due season. The Lord be praised for his excellency, and for giving unto us, unworthy as we are, the assurance that the keeping of the commandments of God is the whole duty of man. When Bro. Gould first came to my house, it was on Sabbath evening. I was at my work as usual, when we began to converse upon the Scriptures; and after speaking upon several topics, he asked, what day was the Bible Sabbath. Ans. Seventh day. He asked, Why, then, I kept the first day. Ans. Because Christ arose on that day. Suffice it to say, wherever I looked for an answer, I found it different from what I had supposed, and all the passages produced evidence against a change of the Sabbath. And further, not only was I ignorant on the Sabbath question, but, in fact, on many others. I knew nothing of the prophecies, or in what age of the world we lived. Our Watchmen are indolent, and begin to say, "My Lord delayeth his coming," and are eating and drinking with the drunken. On the next day after the conversation with Bro. Gould, I went to meeting, and commenced conversing with one of the brethren about the Sabbath. I asked if there was one passage of scripture for the change, when he said that there was. I then asked if he would tell me where to find it. He referred me to John xx, 19. I then asked if that meeting made a Sabbath of that day, and he said I was the first man that he had ever heard say anything to the contrary, and that I must be turning Jew, or else must be crazy. I tried to reason with them, but they would not talk with me at all. I then told them if there was any such scripture, to tell me where to find it, that I might be satisfied. But no answer. I then went home with a heavy heart, determined, however, to search the scriptures for myself, and walk in the light as far as I knew. And by searching and praying, I was soon led to see the truth. And praise the God of our salvation for courage to take up my cross, and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. JOHN A. HARDY.
Lawrenceburg, Dearborn Co., Ind., July 9th, 1854.