A Frank Confession by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 26, 1882

A Frank Confession.

By Uriah Smith

IN an article on the Sabbath question, in the Christian Standard of Sept. 26, 1874, Clark Braden said:—

“One of the many questions that are now causing discussion and confusion in various parts of the country, is what is called the Sabbath question. Often our congregations are divided and destroyed by the persistent proselyting efforts of perambulatory propagandists on this subject. Our preachers are by no means agreed in their teaching, and have no well-defined views on the subject, and are defeated when they attempt a defense of our practice of observing the first day, or a review of the arguments of the advocates of the seventh day. Nor are we alone in this. There is no clear, tenable teaching on this subject in our theological works and commentaries, or by our religious press. Advocates of the observance of the first day, stultify themselves by taking contradictory and inconsistent positions.”

These words are as true to-day as they were in 1874. To say that the defenders of the first day do not agree in their teaching, and have no well-defined views on the subject, is a significant and humiliating admission. How does this happen if the Bible is as clear as it is claimed to be on this subject?

To acknowledge that their preachers “are defeated when they attempt a defense of our practice of observing the first day, or a review of the arguments of the advocates of the seventh day,” is frank.

To admit that there is no clear, tenable teaching on this subject in their theological works and commentaries, is owning a very apparent truth. And we may add that there never will be any except in favor of the seventh day; for there only is the strength and harmony of the testimony of the Bible to be found. U. S.