Ship Missionary Work by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 30, 1882

Ship Missionary Work.

By Editor

[The following is the letter to which reference was made in a note in last week's SIGNS. Let our workers read and take courage.—ED.]

SHIP MORAYSHIRE, SOUTH VALLEJO, March 12, 1882.

MR. AND MRS. PALMER—Beloved in the Lord: With gladness I embrace the opportunity of fulfilling your request and my promise to write to you from this place. How my soul doth magnify the Lord in that, through his special providence and abounding grace, we were led to meet each other. His ways are mysterious to us. He leadeth the blind "by a way that they know not" to his light and liberty. My beloved brother, the steward, is indeed a sharer with me in being thus privileged to magnify the Lord. Before we called—effectually by obedience—he answered; while our minds were willing to obey, he heard, and gave us the favor mentioned: our meeting with you.

Dear brother, you told us that evening on which we last met at your residence, that your household was also gladdened. But had you seen us two last night before the Lord, acknowledging his holy Sabbath day—whilst we did indeed mourn our long protracted neglect of that day in the past, though we were seeking to be guided into the truth as to the fulfilling of the whole law—had you been present with us, I say, your joy would have been full.

As I write in all sincerity, I am persuaded that it will be a means of comfort to you to hear of it. Since I last parted with you I had a long interview with the Captain, during which he asked what I thought of the doctrines advanced in the papers, etc., which you brought. I replied: They are all strictly in accordance with divine revelation; the almost universal neglect to observe the Sabbath day according to the Scriptures, and the substitution of another day in its stead, whether by pope, priest, or minister, is anti-Christian, and a grievous sin against a holy God; and is willful disobedience on the part of those who neglect or refuse to hear the faithful warnings of those who, at great sacrifice, are standing out against the wrongs perpetrated in the Christian church. He said he was sorry that he was ill when you called. The steward was present, and we both felt assured that the Lord has begun to direct his heart in union with our own, in will and desire to obey the fourth commandment. With such a disposition, his position and privileges will providentially be a help to us. We are grateful to our kind and loving Father, knowing he is able to subdue any remaining opposition, and lead our employer to fully see his privilege and responsibility. The Lord is indeed good unto all that call upon him in truth.

How clear is the account by J. W. Morton, in reference to the divine appointment of the seventh day; also, his own convictions and experience. How the prevailing ideas concerning the immortality of man and the sleep of the dead are overturned. The steward had a severe struggle on that point this morning, but when he came to me, on stating that our life is hid with Christ in God, the light came at once. He is perusing the "Ministration of Angels." The origin of Satan, etc., is now, to my mind, made as clear as the sun, while previously I had been in a state of confusion in reference to the power of the opposing forces of evil, or rather, the power of the prince of darkness. How needful that we should know with whom we fight in order to get the equipment necessary to resist his power. How essential it is for us to know and to submit to the will of Him who provides for us the whole armor of God, teaches us how to use it, invites us to put it on, so that we may be able to withstand Satan's wiles.

Dear brother, I have long felt that the Lord had called me by his grace to battle with the principalities and powers of darkness, and it is now clear to my mind that he has led me by special providence. Surely I shall never again think anything by way of chastisement grievous.

I have no word from home yet. Do pray that all may get right in that direction.

With thanks for past favors, we remain, Yours in the Lord, DAVID YOUNG, GEORGE GOULD, STEWART DAILEY.