An Interruption
Here the discourse was broken in upon by questions from one
who had kept the Sabbath a short time, but who had recently given
it up. Rising in the congregation, he said, “This Sabbath question
has been a great trouble to me during the last year, and now I would
like to ask a question: Is the observance of the Sabbath necessary to
my salvation? Answer, yes or no.” I answered promptly, This is an
important question, and demands something more full than yes or no.
All will be judged according to the light that has shone upon them. If
they have light upon the Sabbath, they cannot be saved in rejecting
that light. But none will be held accountable for light which they have
never received. I then quoted the words of Christ, “If I had not come
and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no
cloak for their sin.” It was with the greatest difficulty, however, that I
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made these remarks; for the questioner kept jumping to his feet, and
interrupting me, and in the most excited manner and with the most
violent gestures demanding that the answer be yes or no.
Several times while I was speaking he tried to restate my remarks,
giving them just the meaning that he wished them to have, and that he
has since given them; and as many times he was corrected by persons
present who understood both French and English. [
Notwithstanding
the fact that his misstatements of my position were repeatedly corrected
at the meeting, this man has since stated publicly that at first my
response was evasive; but that as he insisted I became affirmative,
then negative, as follows: “If the Christian is persuaded that he ought
to keep the Sabbath, the Sabbath is necessary to his salvation. If
he does not believe it duty to keep the Sabbath, the Sabbath is not
necessary to his salvation.” This is a gross misrepresentation, as will
be seen by comparing it with the facts as given above; but to just such
misrepresentations will those resort who oppose the truth.
] He then
began to read and comment upon something which he had written in
regard to the Sabbath. But he proceeded so rapidly that he gave little
opportunity for his remarks to be interpreted, and therefore I could get
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