Sustaining the Review by Hiram Abbott

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 10, 1866

Sustaining the Review

By Hiram Abbott

From Bro. Abbott.

Bro. White: I esteem it a privilege and duty to cast in my mite in favor of God and the truth. I can say with a sincere heart, I love God, I love his truth, I love his scattered and despised children. My love to God has been increased by reading the last number of the Review. I was made to rejoice while reading those soul-cheering testimonies which were recorded there. I ask, what would the remnant people of God do if it were not for this messenger of truth? My prayer to God is, that it may be sustained. Brethren in Christ, let us do what we can to SUSTAIN THE PAPER! The Review is like a ship which has returned from the golden world, laded down with the choicest treasures. It makes its weekly returns, bringing to the hungry, food; to the thirsty, drink.

I would say for the edification of those of like faith, that there are a few in the little church at Wakeman, that are still striving to keep ALL the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus. The church here have had many internal trials and conflicts to endure; but I thank God that he has borne with us until the present. Satan has been trying to sift and destroy our small church, but the Lord has been stronger than all our enemies.

We have sustained our weekly and monthly meetings ever since we have been organized, which has been nearly three years. Some of the time we have not been in as good working order as we should have been, therefore we have not made that progress in the truth, and the divine life that we should have done; but the Lord is bringing us to feel the need of a deeper work of grace in our hearts. My prayer to God is, that he would inspire our every heart with a more ardent zeal. A zeal that will enable us to surmount every difficulty; a zeal that is according to knowledge. I feel as though God's people will soon be called on to the conflict; the time of trouble is not far distant; the mutterings of the approaching storm are already heard; let us raise our united cry to our heavenly Father, to clothe us with the armor of righteousness, and prepare us for the conflict, so that when our leader says, "On to the conflict," that we shall be ready, by the grace of God to enter the engagement, with a full assurance of certain victory.

Jesus is our captain; he will not leave us nor forsake us. Let us prove faithful to him until he comes, and eternal life is ours. The wise men of the east were rejoiced to see that star, that pointed to the redeemer's birth. They were in patient waiting for his coming. We, too, should be patiently waiting for the coming of our Lord. The omens are thickening all around us, of his soon coming.

Dear brethren, let us lift up our heads, for our redemption draweth nigh. Come, Lord Jesus, COME QUICKLY!

Hiram Abbott.

Wakeman, Ohio.