Keeping the Seventh-Day Sabbath
By H. W. Dodge
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I feel it a privilege to add my testimony to the truth. I should have done so ere this, but have waited to see if I could not find something in favor of Sunday-keeping; but I cannot.176Matt. v, 17, 18, settles the question with me, even if there was no other proof that none of the ten commandments of God were destroyed or abolished by our Saviour. My companion has kept the seventh day since last May. I thought all Summer that she was doing right, and told her so, still I did not wish to have anything said to me on the subject. The last of Sept. and the first of Oct., we had a tent-meeting on the farm attended by Brn. Wheeler, Hart and Everts. I then embraced the seventh-day Sabbath, knowing it to be the Sabbath of the Lord beyond controversy. As we have the privilege of worshiping God according to the dictates of our own conscience, I can say that my conscience teaches me to observe the seventh day; that the seventh-day is the day to be kept holy unto the Lord. The seventh day appears to me different from what the first ever did : such a sweet sacredness attends it that we hail it with joy and feel glad when the Sabbath comes, and feel it to be as the poet said,
"Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eternal rest" We are the only family in the town that keep the seventh day, but we get along just as well as when we knew no better than to keep the first day. Christ said walk in the light while ye have the light, and we can see that it is good for us so to do. Brethren and sisters, situated as we are it is not our privilege to meet with Sabbath-keepers much; therefore we ask to be remembered in your prayers that we may be faithful to the end, and when the jewels are made up have a part in the first resurrection and live with our dear Saviour. Yours in bonds of christian love.
H. W. DODGE.
N. H., Jan. 20th, 1855.