Meetings on the Bible Sabbath
By A. S. Hutchins
BRO. SMITH:—I have just returned from Saratoga Co., N. Y., where I spent three Sabbaths. In the town of Greenville, I spent two Sabbaths, and preached fourteen sermons while there. Our meetings were held in a hall. Most of the time the weather was quite unfavorable, but notwithstanding this the interest for attending the meetings and for hearing the word spoken, continued to increase gradually unto their close. Our last meeting, which was held on First-day, was one of much interest. We presented for the fourth time the subject of the Bible Sabbath. Several came in for the first time to hear our evidences upon this subject. And as the light from the sacred pages of God's blessed word shone upon us, those who believe and obeyed this Word, were free indeed. A few meetings previous to this we remarked that the religion of the Bible made men honest and fair. And that if a man had the truths of the holy Bible on his side, he could not fear to have his position closely and thoroughly investigated. And that especially upon the Sabbath question, all who keep the seventh day, could afford to be frank, honest and fair. And therefore, if any one knew of any text of scripture which they thought in any way sustained the First-day theory, if they chose before the commencement of our last meeting to present the same, we would endeavor to show to the contrary. A goodly number of attentive hearers came to the meeting, but no one brought with him, or made reference to one "thus saith the Lord," for Sunday-keeping. We do not infer from this that all of the congregation resolved to take a stand for the Bible Sabbath. But we do hope and fervently pray that some who acknowledged they saw light on our position, and that the subject is clear, &c., will join the two happy families there (one of which embraced the Sabbath while we were there) who are now endeavoring to keep all of the Commandments of God. I praise God for truth; for clear, consistent, Bible truth. It is not with those who are walking in the light of the Third Angel's Message, as with the preacher some years since, who advocated the temporal millennium: he said he had no trouble with this subject till the Adventist asked him for his proof texts: then he was silenced. No, not so with those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus, they can give a "reason" of their hope. I am confident with others, who have written on this point, that new fields must be entered, and that our meetings should be held longer. But one sermon on present truth had been preached in G. previous to our meetings there. A. S. HUTCHINS.
Morristown, Vt., March 25th, 1856.