Priest’s Letter on Truth and the Review
By M. L. Priest
Bro. Smith: I rejoice in the steady, onward march of truth. Truth is a gem for which we have long been seeking. I am glad it can be found in God's word, and that all can find it who search for it as for hid treasures. Light is sown for the righteous. I thank the Lord, with a full heart, for the helps we have while pursuing our journey. Our paper, the Review, is truly a welcome visitor to us. I rejoice in its prosperity. It seems doubly interesting since it has been enlarged. All can have a meeting by perusing it. The soul-stirring epistles and good sermons are truly cheering and interesting. While reading the sermon on the messages by Bro. Canright, and with him reviewing our past experience, we rejoiced with joy unspeakable. Who that had an experience in the work in '43 and '44, but rejoiced that there is a bright side to the cloud that has gone around behind us. Our disappointment was great. Our hope was deferred, and our hearts were made sick. We did need patience then; but, thank the Lord, we have been sustained until now. We have waited long, but are sure that in God's own good time Jesus will come. It is no cunningly-devised fable. The truths then proclaimed are waymarks that cannot be removed, unless the whole work prove a failure, which, if our Bible is true, cannot be. It is a solemn reality that we are living in the judgment. Oh! that we could, as a people, and individually, realize it. We are now forming characters that will fix our final destiny. The law of God is to be the rule by which our cases are to be decided. The last warning is being given. The last chance for us to escape the penalty of that law is being offered. Oh! may the Lord help us to be more in earnest; to be stirred by the threatenings of God's word, to be encouraged by its promises; and, as we see the signs fast fulfilling, bestir ourselves, and try to let our light so shine that others will be led to inquire if these things are true. There are great responsibilities upon us individually. Our ministers cannot do our duties. Now is the time to work! Soon it will be too late! The fruitless branches will very soon be cut off. The pruning work has begun. God is in earnest with his people. I do believe he is fitting up his faithful ones for great trials and victories. My desire is to endure to the end. Your sister in Christ,
M. L. Priest.
South Lancaster, Mass.