S. GARDNER by S. Gardner

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 22, 1861

S. GARDNER

By S. Gardner

From Bro. Gardner.

BRO. SMITH: Permit me through the columns of the Review, although I am not a subscriber, to say a few words. I will not detain you long. A little more than a year ago I heard with interest Brn. Hall and Cornell preach in the town of Osceola, Iowa. Their doctrine was plain and pointed, but still it was a mystery to me, as it was to many others, if this doctrine was true, why it had been covered so long in obscurity. I studied about the same, and read the Scriptures, which I thought would condemn a great portion of what they said; but the more I searched, the more I found in their favor. My relations commenced keeping the Sabbath, but I did not. The testimony which I had heard and read destroyed the sanctity of the first day, which I had been taught to observe, and so I regarded neither.

I then left home to stay nine months with my brother in Missouri, who is a Methodist minister. He and his brethren being in favor of Sunday-keeping, I too observed that day, although it was only for a form, for I did not much regard the sanctity of any day, for my mind was frustrated in regard to which day was the true Sabbath. I also read many books, and heard many arguments which looked very reasonable, to prove that the Sabbath had been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week, that Christ rose on the first day and redeemed a sin-cursed world, and as redemption was greater than creation, therefore it was changed to commemorate the great act of redemption.

But I could not find it in the Scriptures, that redemption was greater than creation, nor that in consequence the Sabbath was changed from the seventh to the first day of the week.

A few weeks ago I returned home and found my mother, brothers and sisters, keeping the Sabbath of the decalogue, which, if I yet see right, it is my duty also to keep. But I feel conscious that keeping the Sabbath alone will not save us, or justify us in the sight of God. But while we remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, we must keep all God's commandments, for the Scriptures say [Eccl. xii, 13] that the conclusion of the whole matter is to fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

By the grace of God I will keep his commandments. May the Lord bless what has been sown in weakness.