Influence of a Tract
An interesting experience related to us by one of our Danish
brethren, shows how the truth is sometimes advanced by the very
efforts made to hinder its progress. Bro. C. C. Hansen had been
convinced by reading the Bible, that the seventh day is the Sabbath.
And as the Baptist minister had been presenting to him the Bible argu-
ment for immersion, his mind was exercised on the subject of baptism
also. About this time Bro. Brorsen visited the place, and gave to the
Methodist minister the tract, “New Testament Sabbath.” When he had
read it, he gave it to Bro. Hansen, in the hope that by showing that the
Bible presents as forcibly the duty of keeping the seventh day, which
is universally disregarded, as it does the duty of baptism, he could
lead him to renounce the idea of being immersed. He argued that the
Sabbath is disregarded by Baptists as well as others, and it could be
no worse to set aside immersion than to reject the Sabbath. But the
result of this effort was the reverse of what the minister wished. Bro.
Hansen read the tract again and again, wept and prayed over it, and
instead of renouncing baptism, he decided to keep the Sabbath. At
first he thought it his duty to keep Sunday also, and in the attempt to
keep two days became discouraged, and gave up the Sabbath. But just
at this time Bro. Brorsen came to his help, and explained from the
Bible the true relation of the Sabbath and Sunday. Some time later, he
was much impressed by reading in the Advent Tidende an account of
what I had seen in regard to some in foreign countries receiving the
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papers and tracts, reading them, praying over them, and finally taking
their stand on the Sabbath, for this exactly described his experience.
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