Learning to Keep the Sabbath
By W. E. Caviness
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS : I have often been cheered and revived in reading your letters in the Review. It has been nearly two years since I commenced trying to keep the Sabbath of the Lord and faith of Jesus, and I can say that I am not tired of trying to obey the truth. On the other hand I feel more determined than ever to try to be an overcomer and meet the remnant on mount Zion. It seemed difficult for me to give up my Orthodox views on the Scriptures, more especially Sunday-keeping; not that I had been taught to keep Sunday very strictly; but I would measure, or try to measure, the commands of God, and the religion of Jesus Christ by what our forefathers had done in times past. I would reason thus: Have not all of our forefathers kept Sunday, and will they be lost? I could not think so. But after investigating carefully, I found that this course of reasoning would not do; because by the same course a Roman Catholic might justify his position and Scripture views by what his forefathers had done. But people's apostatizing from God and his law, does not alter nor abolish his law. If a majority of our forefathers did break the law of God in keeping Sunday, many of them did it ignorantly; and sins of ignorance can be atoned for. Lev. iv. Num. xv. Nevertheless a sin of ignorance is a sin and must be atoned for. Therefore, let us not sin ignorantly, but study the Scriptures, that we may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. I began to investigate present truth in Feb. 1861, and in vain did I search for the command for Sunday-keeping. The more I examined the Bible, the brighter the truth shone. But not until this summer, 1863, have I been permitted to hear much Advent preaching. I first became interested by getting or borrowing a few advent books, and seeing so many passages of scripture mentioned in those books compared with any that I had ever before seen, I began to compare them with the Bible and found that they were in accordance with it. Since that time, 1861, the present truth has been my principal delight. I have been greatly strengthened during the present season by some stirring sermons preached by Brn. Sanborn and Snook. Bro. Sanborn has done a good work in Iowa; and as I see the cause of God moving forward, as it has been doing for some time past, I am made to rejoice and believe more and more in the gifts placed in the church, seeing that organization is a perfect success, as has been shown through these gifts. How plain it is that the dragon makes war on the remnant because they have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy. Rev. xix, 10. I feel greatly encouraged every week by receiving the Review laden with good reading. I could not do without it. It is my delight to study the Bible and try to move along with God's people, and do his commandments. I want a right at last to the tree of life, and an entrance through the gates into the city.
W. E. CAVINESS.
Fairfield, Iowa.