“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.”
From Bro. Colcord.
Bro. Smith: Thirteen or fourteen years ago when I was a member of the Methodist Protestant church, while meditating on the plan of salvation, and searching the Scriptures, I was led to wonder why we were keeping the first day of the week as a Sabbath. But our preachers would say, It is the Christian Sabbath. I could not find the proof in the Bible; yet I supposed the preachers knew, probably better than I. Besides, they said that the law was nailed to the cross, and we must expect salvation through faith alone; also that the seventh day was the Jewish Sabbath, and came to an end with their dispensation. So I was lulled to sleep again on that subject. Yet I had my doubts about this repealing and re-enacting a part of God's holy law.
About two years ago Bro. Lathrop (formerly of N. Y.) gave me a short lecture on the Sabbath question, and I could not show any fight against his arguments, because he had all the Bible on his side. Soon after, I was invited to go and hear Bro. White, at Clyde. I went, and was confirmed in my belief in respect to the Sabbath, and the immutability of God's holy law. I then began to visit and receive visits from the dear brethren and sisters of like precious faith. O how cheering for those who fear the Lord to speak often one to another, knowing that there is a book written for them, and that they will be the Lord's when he makes up his jewels, and he will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
After a while Bro. Loughborough came here, and gave a full course of lectures on the prophecies, the Sabbath, and the state of the dead, mortality and immortality, &c. He labored faithfully, and was "valiant for the truth," and well received by the "little flock," but violently opposed by Babylon and her daughters. "Fear not, little flock; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
When I first heard that there was a strange kind of people come from the East, (Brn. Everts, Hart, &c.,) who taught that we had no immortal souls, I shuddered at the thought; but said I, I will give the subject an impartial investigation by the standard. So I took my Bible, and other helps, and soon found that God was true, and that some, yea many men were liars; and that they were blind guides, and dishonored the great Father "who so loved the world that he gave his dear Son to die for them that they might have eternal life (immortality) through him:" but not so as to make void God's holy law through faith. God forbid!
And now, dear brethren and sisters, I can say, O how love I thy law, the commandments, the statutes and the faith of Jesus, and also the remnant, or little flock! How reasonable the plan of salvation looks to me now; yea, how glorious! The attributes of God all seem to harmonize; and his law is holy, just and good, although it slew me. But being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.