LETTERS by Joseph Bates

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1858

LETTERS.

By Joseph Bates

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."

From Bro. Bates.

BRO. SMITH: We commenced a series of evening meetings at the school-house at Bigelow's Mills, Ind., Feb. 2d, and closed First-day evening, the 7th. The people were much interested to hear on the subject of the second advent, but the Sabbath they supposed was abolished. One of the principal Advent churches in this region was organized there a few years ago by those who taught that Christ would come in A. D. 1854. These also taught Joseph Marsh's theory, viz., no commandment, no Sabbath of the Lord.

Eld. Hammond, recently from the State of Me., believing with the advocates of the Advent Herald, has been making strenuous efforts to re-organize said church according to his view of the Bible, and appeared much disturbed and troubled at our views of the commandments and Sabbath of the Bible. He exhorted the people to beware of our teaching; for, said he, this Bro. makes the Sabbath a test, and also the law, when it reads that by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified. He then stated that the church had changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week, and he was satisfied that that change was right. He then quoted Col. ii, 16, to prove that the Sabbaths were abolished, and we had no right to judge in this matter. Then for fear he had not proved something about what he did believe, or something else, he referred his hearers to Rom. xiv, 5. "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." We replied that the law does not justify, for it is the law that condemns the transgressor, who only can be justified by Christ.

With respect to the Sabbath we occupied but one position; viz., the Sabbath of the Bible; but Mr. M. endeavored to sustain three positions: 1. That the first day of the week was the Sabbath since the resurrection. 2. That the Sabbath was abolished at the crucifixion. 3. That we might esteem one day above another, or we might esteem every day alike, according to our own mind. He finally concluded that the Sabbath was changed by a certain king, which was right, but the keeping the seventh day for the Sabbath was a great error. We left him to his own confused theories.

Several believed our position, and two families decided to unite with the one family that were keeping the Bible Sabbath at the Mills. We hope that some others which were interested in the Sabbath question will also unite with them. We held a few more meetings at La Porte, and on the 14th inst. baptized three more, making in all twenty-one since our meetings commenced in Jan. When the church are all together they number about thirty. They have three meetings a week.

Bro. D. H. Simons gave us a pressing call to come over to Three Rivers, Mich., and help him, for he was alone on the Sabbath question. We commenced a series of meetings on the evening of the 16th inst. in a very commodious hall in the business part of the village, but very few have come out yet to hear. We hope their prejudices will give away, or we be directed where the people have ears to hear the last notes of warning.

JOSEPH BATES.

Three Rivers, Mich., Feb. 18th, 1858.