PREFACE

The following pages have been written with the design of shielding inexperienced brethren from the attacks of opponents, and of aiding honest skeptics, who, from their cast of mind and improper education, have formed incorrect conclusions relative to the ancient Sabbath.RFOS iii.1

There are, doubtless, many who honestly think that the objections which are usually urged against the Sabbath are valid. We would ask such to candidly and prayerfully consider what we have written in reply to those objections, to take broad and harmonious views of subjects, and to weigh the affirmative arguments of the Sabbath, as well as its seemingly objectionable features.RFOS iii.2

There is not a truth in science or in religion against which objections have not been urged. It would, therefore, be very unwise to rashly repudiate a doctrine because opponents have arrayed themselves against it with objections.RFOS iii.3

Those of a naturally skeptical cast of mind should remember that their constant danger is to dwell under a cloud of doubt and uncertainty, which does not necessarily grow out of subjects under consideration, but which is very often foreign thereto and wholly imaginary. Such cannot expect to form right conclusions unless they break away from their doubts, and accustom themselves to looking on the favorable side of questions.RFOS iii.4

It is very inconsistent to let a few seeming objections obscure clear and well-established principles, and prevent us from deciding in favor of what we know to be truth. Would it be reasonable for a school-boy to decide against the science of arithmetic because he had come to a problem he could not solve? Reason and consistency require that we declare ourselves in favor of what we understand to be truth; and those do violence to their reason and judgment who refuse to do this. By deciding in favor of the truth, as far as we see it, wrong mental habits, which close the mind against the truth, will be broken, and we shall be enabled to understand those points that are not clear. This has been the experience of thousands. But, although there should, for the time being, remain a few points unexplainable to our minds, we should not suffer these points to shake our confidence in plain and unmistakable evidences. It has been ascertained that the sun has spots which do not emit light; but it would be unwise for this reason to shut our eyes against the sun, and say that it does not shine. It is our duty and privilege to settle on the truth as far as we understand it, and to be firm, like Mount Zion, which cannot be removed.RFOS iv.1

D. T. Bourdeau.
Nimes, France.