Letter from Bro. Day by John C. Day

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 9, 1856

Letter from Bro. Day.

By John C. Day

BRO. SMITH: With your permission I should be glad to say a few words through the Review to its friends and all others whom it may concern, with regard to the course I have taken in the past. Something more than five years ago I became convinced of the truth that the Sabbath was equally binding upon all men in all ages of the world. Before this for nearly five years, I had imbibed the No-Sabbath heresy; but being convinced of the fallacy of that position by seeing the truth upon the Third Angel's Message, I immediately made up my mind to surrender my weapons of rebellion, and to submit myself to the requirements of the last message of mercy, and to try by the grace of God, through Christ, to be prepared for the events of God's providence here, and finally to have some humble seat among his saints in the kingdom of his dear Son; and for a time I can truly say that I enjoyed much of the Spirit and presence of Christ.

Thus things continued most of the time for about two years, when the scene began to be changed. Trials began to come in among us. About this time there was a circumstance happened which threw me into a great trial—such a trial as I had never before experienced. It had such an effect upon my mind, that at times I hardly knew what course to pursue. The Enemy would fain have had me give up the truth. I felt at times that the brethren had no confidence in me, and did not care what became of me; and for about six months I was nearly in despair, and God alone knows what I suffered in my mind during that time. But after a while the trial gradually wore away, and at times I could feel to praise the Lord for it, and felt that it was for my good and for the glory of God; and at other times I would feel that I could not be reconciled to it, and would feel hard towards those who I thought had inflicted the blow, and would speak of what I then considered their wrong course.

At these times instead of putting the best construction upon what the brethren had done, I would put the worst. That I feel was all wrong, and feel heartily sorry for it. Instead of stopping to cast out the beam that was in mine own eye, I began to search for the mote that was in my brother's eye; and in this state of mind I could see everything very distinctly, if there was anything, and sometimes, I fear, when there was not anything in reality. While I was pondering these things over in my mind the paper published in Michigan reached me; and although I was sure that the spirit in which it was written was anything but the Spirit of Christ, yet I could not think that there was a human being upon the face of the earth capable of such depravity as to frame such accusations without they had some foundation in truth. About this time Bro. Andrews gave me some information, but only with regard to one or two, and with some good advice which I ought to have heeded; and if I had it would have saved me many a sorrowful hour, and the Church much trial, for which I feel sorry from my heart.

About this time there were some questions asked through the Review by a brother, and answered by the committee, which answer I could not reconcile with our past experience. From this time I began to have correspondence with the friends of the "Messenger," and gradually to lose confidence in the integrity of some of the brethren who were friends of the Review. I felt very hard toward Bro. White and Bro. Cornell, and especially so from the time that the first "Extra" came out. I could hardly bear at times to read their names in the paper. I felt as though they wanted to crush everybody who happened to differ from them. With this state of feeling I went to Greece, N. Y., last January, I think; and while there, there were many things which served to make me think of the course that I was taking. It was there that I saw the second "Extra" for the first time; and while reading that little sheet, my mind underwent a complete change with regard to Brn. White and Cornell. There they seemed ready to acknowledge wherein they had felt that they were wrong, and I became convinced that they had no desire, as I had thought, to cover up their wrongs, neither to oppose others, and that my feelings had been all jealousy, and evil surmisings. I would humbly ask the forgiveness of those brethren, and solicit their prayers, that God may forgive me, that I may never again indulge in such feelings against any human being.

I feel deeply to regret the course I have taken in being identified with a party which I fear as a party are directly opposed to truth, or what I consider truth—the Third Angel's Message. I am sorry from my heart for the course that I have taken with that paper, and not that only, but for many things which I have written for the "Messenger," especially those pieces in which I have written anything against Bro. or Sr. White, or any other person living, and humbly ask their forgiveness for all that I have said or done wrong. And not only would I ask their forgiveness, but that of the entire Church, and especially those who have heard me speak against any of the brethren; for I feel heartily sorry for every such departure from the teaching and Spirit of Jesus Christ that I have made; and I mean by the grace of God to do better for the future. Brethren, pray for me.

And in conclusion I want to say, as to the doctrine of probation after the Advent, which has been the principal doctrine of the "Messenger," I have no sympathy with it, nor faith in it; but after a most careful and thorough examination of the subject, not only in the New Testament, but also of the very prophecies on which they ground their argument, I feel convinced that the doctrine has no foundation in the word of God; and I do hope and pray that the view taken by some of them, which places the Messages of Rev. xiv, in the future, which would entirely do away with the advent movement, and the idea that in the "Age to Come," the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic economy are to be revived, the old Sanctuary again built up, and the services of that Sanctuary again brought into requisition, will serve to open the eyes of the honest. I am satisfied that the results of this doctrine are most pernicious, the tendency being to lull to sleep the sensibilities of the mind, and thence lead into the spirit of the world, and every evil connected with worldly-mindedness; and I fear it will land many in perdition. JOHN C. DAY. Lancaster, Mass., Sept. 1856.