Facts of Faith

The Baptist

The English divines who began the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath in London during the seventeenth century, also practiced immersion as baptism, and they are now reckoned as a branch of the Baptists. After some of them had emigrated to the United States, they felt a special call from God during the first half of the nineteenth century to bring the Sabbath truth to their Christian brethren. It seemed as though the time had come for a Sabbath reform; for not only Baptists, but God-fearing Men in different denominations, were simultaneously impressed with the importance of the Bible Sabbath, and that, seemingly, independent of one another. Dr. Edward T. Hiscox, author of the “Baptist Manual,” says: “There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week, with all its duties, privileges, and sanctions. Earnestly desiring information on this subject, which I have studied for many years, I ask, Where can the record of such a transaction be found? Not in the New Testament, absolutely not. There is no Scriptural evidence of the change of the Sabbath institution from the seventh to the first day of the week.” FAFA 174.4

A series of articles appeared in the organ of the Swedish Baptist church, Evangelisten (The Evangelist), Stockholm, May 30 to August 15, 1863. The articles, which appeared as editorials, took a bold stand against the abolition of the Sabbath commandment, and proved the binding claims of the Sabbath, from its institution, and from the teaching of Christ and His apostles. In regard to the abolition of the Sabbath the editor says: FAFA 175.1

“In opposition to this doctrine we will now endeavor to show that the sanctification of the Sabbath has its foundation and its origin in a law which God at creation itself established for the whole world, and as a consequence thereof is binding on all men in all ages.” — May 30, 1863, p. 169. FAFA 175.2

“Thus we find that the Sabbath commandment is placed side by side with the other eternally binding commands, which God has given as a rule and guide for the whole human race. Therefore, he who will maintain that the Sabbath commandment is only a ceremonial command, and so binding only for a certain time, can with equal right explain all the other of the ten commandments as ceremonial commands, with which we have nothing to do in the new covenant.” — Id., July 31, 1868, p. 235. FAFA 175.3

This agitation was not without its effect. Pastor M. A. Sommer began observing the seventh day, and wrote in his church paper, Indovet Kristendom, No. 5, 1875, an impressive article about the true Sabbath. In a letter to Elder John G. Matteson, he says: FAFA 176.1

“Among the Baptists here in Denmark there is great agitation regarding the Sabbath commandment.... However, I am probably the only preacher in Denmark, who stands so near to the Adventists, and who for many years has proclaimed Christ’s second coming.” — “Advent Tidende,” May, 1875, p. 154. FAFA 176.2

“The Confession of Faith,” which the Danish Baptists received from Hamburg in 1852, contained the following: FAFA 176.3

“‘Art. 12. Concerning the Law. Here is emphasized the absolute and eternal validity of the Jewish law, especially the ten commandments. And by this is inculcated the sanctification of the Sabbath (Sunday).’ What the brethren, who wrote the Confession of faith had in mind, was the violation of the Lord’s day, and they did not realize that they shot over the mark. But when the Adventists came, they took advantage precisely of this article; it was namely an easy matter for them to point out, that ‘the Sabbath day’ was Saturday, and not Sunday. This brought the leading brethren to a real investigation of this matter, and when they met at the Conference in 1878 it had become clear to them ... that we Christians have nothing to do with the Jewish law, and that we should keep Sunday as a day of rest, because the first Christians did so, and not because of the Sabbath commandment.’ - “History of the Danish Baptists,” S. Hansen and P. Olsen, pp. 162,163. Copenhagen: 1896. FAFA 176.4

In their new “Handbook” by W. J. Anderson (1903) there is no mention of the Ten Commandments, nor of the moral law. Thus they had made their decision. FAFA 176.5

On the other hand the American “Baptist Church Manual,” by J. Newton Brown, 1853, and the “Star Book” by Dr. Edward Hiscox, both of whom wrote in representatives of Sundaykeeping denominations, have the following statement concerning the moral law, or the Ten Commandments: FAFA 177.1

“We believe the Scriptures teach that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts, arises entirely from their sinful nature; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church.” — “Manual,” p. 15, and “Star Book,” p. 18. Philadelphia: American Baptist Pub. Soc., 1880. FAFA 177.2

Thus we see that God, who is no respecter of persons, offered to the different denominations the honor and privilege of finishing the work so nobly begun by the great Protestant Reformers, that of digging up the precious truths of God’s Word, which the Papacy had buried beneath it’s traditions for so many centuries. Daniel 8:12; 7:25. This effort of God to bring His people back to the whole truth of His Word, will be seen more clearly in the next two chapters. FAFA 177.3