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men. At last this noble woman was seized and thrust into prison.
The charge brought against her was that she taught only five days
in the week, and rested on Saturday, it being known that she did it
in obedience to the fourth commandment. She was accused of no
crime; the motive of her act was the sole ground of complaint.
She was often visited by her persecutors, who employed their
most wily arguments to induce her to renounce her faith. In reply,
she begged them to show from the Scriptures that she was in error,
and urged that if Sunday were really a holy day, the fact must be
stated in the word of God. But in vain she asked for Bible testimony.
She was exhorted to smother her convictions, and believe what the
church declared to be right.
She refused to purchase liberty by renouncing the truth. The
promises of God sustained her faith: “Fear none of those things
which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you
into prison that ye may be tried.” “Be thou faithful unto death, and I
will give thee a crown of life.” [Revelation 2:10.] For nearly sixteen years this feeble woman remained a prisoner, in privation and great
suffering. The book of God alone can testify what she endured
during those weary years. Faithfully she witnessed for the truth; her
patience and fortitude failed not until she was released by death.
Her name was cast out as evil on earth, but it is honored in the
heavenly records. She was registered among the number who have
been hunted, maligned, cast out, imprisoned, martyred; “of whom
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the world was not worthy.” “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord
of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.” [Malachi 3:17.]
God has, in his providence, preserved the history of a few of
those who suffered for their obedience to the fourth commandment;
but there were many, of whom the world knows nothing, who for
the same truth endured persecution and martyrdom. Those who
oppressed these followers of Christ called themselves Protestants;
but they abjured the fundamental principle of Protestantism,—the
Bible and the Bible only as the rule of faith and practice. The
testimony of the Scriptures they thrust from them with disdain. This
spirit still lives, and it will increase more and more as we near the
close of time. Those who honor the Bible Sabbath are even now
pronounced willful and stubborn by a large share of the Christian
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The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4
world, and the time is not far distant when the spirit of persecution
will be manifested against them.
In the seventeenth century there were several Sabbatarian
churches in England, while there were hundreds of Sabbath-keepers
scattered throughout the country. Through their labors this truth
was planted in America at an early date. Less than half a century
after the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth, the Sabbath-keepers
of London sent one of their number to raise the standard of Sabbath
reform in the new world. This missionary held that the ten com-
mandments as they were delivered from Mount Sinai are moral and
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immutable, and that it was the antichristian power which thought
to change times and laws, that had changed the Sabbath from the
seventh to the first day. In Newport, R. I., several church-members
embraced these views, yet continued for some years in the church
with which they had previously been co
difficulty between the Sabbatarians and the Sunday observers, and
the former were compelled to withdraw from the church, that they
might peaceably keep God’s holy day. Soon after, they entered into
an organization, thus forming the first Sabbath- keeping church in
America. These Sabbath-keepers had flattered themselves that they
could obey the fourth commandment and yet remain co
Sunday observers. It was a blessing to them and to after-generations
that such a union could not exist; for had it continued, it would
eventually have caused the light of God’s holy Sabbath to go out in
darkness.
Some years later, a church was formed in New Jersey. A zealous
observer of Sunday, having reproved a person for laboring on that
day, was asked for his authority from the Scriptures. On searching
for this he found, instead, the divine command for keeping the
seventh day, and he began at once to observe it. Through his labors
a Sabbatarian church was raised up.
From that time the work gradually extended, until thousands
began the observance of the Sabbath. Among the Seventh-day
Baptists of this country have been men eminent for talent, learning,
and piety. They have accomplished a great and good work as they
have stood for two hundred years in defense of the ancient Sabbath.
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In the present century few have taken a nobler stand for this truth
than was taken by Eld. J. W. Morton, whose labors and writings in
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favor of the Sabbath have led many to its observance. He was sent as
a missionary to Hayti by the Reformed Presbyterians. Sabbatarian
publications fell into his hands, and after giving the subject a careful
examination, he became satisfied that the fourth commandment
requires the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. Without waiting
to consider his own interests, he immediately determined to obey
God. He returned home, made known his faith, was tried for heresy,
and expelled from the Reformed Presbyterian Church without being
allowed to present the reasons for his position.
The course of the Presbyterian synod in condemning Eld. Mor-
ton without granting him a hearing, is an evidence of the spirit
of intolerance which still exists, even among those claiming to be
Protestant reformers. The infinite God, whose throne is in the heav-
ens, condescends to address his people, “Come now, and let us
reason together;” [Isaiah 1:18.] but frail, erring men proudly refuse to reason with their brethren. They stand ready to censure one who
accepts any light which they have not received—as though God had
pledged himself to give no more light to any one than he had given
to them. This is the course pursued by opposers of the truth in every
age. They forget the declaration of the Scriptures, “Light is sown for
the righteous.” [Psalm 97:11.] “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” [Proverbs
4:18.] It is a sad thing when a people claiming to be reformers cease to reform.
If professed Christians would but carefully and prayerfully com- [186]
pare their views with the Scriptures, laying aside all pride of opinion
and desire for the supremacy, a flood of light would be shed upon
the churches now wandering in the darkness of error. As fast as his