p. 91, para. 1 | Untitled article

Untitled article

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, January 21, 1868

SISTER E. MOTT writes: I have been in a state of mind in which it seemed no use for me to make any further effort for salvation. It has seemed to be beyond my reach. Thus I have groped along in midnight darkness, with scarcely a ray of light to pierce the thick clouds that surrounded me, until I read the experience of Brn. Rhodes and Lamoreaux. Since reading of the victory which they have obtained over the strong foe, a little gleam of hope has sprung up in my heart, that the Lord will yet be gracious to one so poor and unworthy as I am. I deeply regret my past wrongs, and earnestly desire to forsake every evil way, and like the prodigal, return to my Father's house once more. I am trying to search my heart by the aid of the Holy Spirit, and my daily prayer is, Lord what wilt thou have me to do? In all my darkness I have never yielded up one point of present truth. The Review has always been a welcome visitor. I believe all the Testimonies to the church, and take pleasure in reading them, and mean to try to heed the solemn warnings therein contained.

If any should read these lines whose feelings I have ever injured, I would humbly ask their forgiveness for all that I have said that is wrong. I hope my sad experience will be a warning to all who are suffering affliction and trial, and lead them instead of yielding to the tempter, to cast their burden upon the Lord and he will sustain them. All these struggles will only make rest the sweeter if we are so happy as to be found among the redeemed when Jesus shall come.

SISTER J. M. REYNOLDS writes from St. Joseph Co., Mich.: It is nearly a year since I began to look for the weekly visits of the Review, as one looks for the coming of a dear friend. I think the people who sustain it the nearest to the Bible in doctrine of any I am acquainted with. I have long been a believer in the doctrine that the Saviour, in like manner as he ascended, would, at the appointed time, descend from Heaven to take his weary children home. I have been striving for more than forty years to so purify my soul by obeying the truth that I shall not be left behind.

“Have fought through many a battle sore, And ready stand to fight through more.”

Through a marvelous train of events, I had the privilege of associating with a little handful of this people in the town of Greenbush in this State, and truly feel to thank God and take courage. My strength increases and my path grows brighter. I then embraced the Sabbath, and have kept it the best I could since that time. I am a lone one, and have attended meeting with this people but once since I left Greenbush. Am indebted to a dear sister of that place for the many rich feasts I have had in reading the Review, which is all the publication I have. I am watching with deep anxiety the progress of the cause among you, and feel that it is truly time to gird on the whole armor. The lions are roaring on every side; but, praise the King of kings, their chains have their length, and while we are in the way, there is no danger. More than forty years' experience has taught me that it is safe “to trust in the Lord and mind his word;” a lesson I learned at my mother's side nearly sixty years ago. It is wise and good counsel now. Would that people would heed it, instead of following cunningly devised fables. How is it? Do we who profess to follow Christ strive daily to put off the old man with his deeds? Do we seek to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts? How many Abrahams are there among us? The Lord in mercy grant an increase of the light of his Holy Spirit, that we may see ourselves as we are seen, and enable us to work while the day lasts. Deny thyself, is the first injunction of the Saviour; and everything of which God would have us deny ourselves (though seemingly hard), is but exchanging dross for the purest gold. Take every idol, O our Father. May we purify our souls and bodies, that we may become fit temples for the Holy Spirit.

SISTER S. J. McFERREN writes from Richland Co., Ohio: I love the true Sabbath of the Lord, and hail with delight its weekly return. Its holy hours of peaceful rest bring strength to heart and life. Most highly do I prize the sermons that come to me each week through the Review. They are precious to me because we are left without a minister here.

I have been trying to serve the Lord since 1844. At that time I was blessed under the sound of the first angel's message. But from that time to this, have been deprived of meeting with any of like precious faith. I am trying to be a possessor, and not a professor only, and not like the unworthy servant, saying, “My Lord delayeth his coming,” and thinking there is no danger of indulging a little longer in some sinful lust of the appetite, or some other evil, and so come short of the blessed promises that the Lord has given to them that are faithful. I have been trying to live out the health reform as far as I can understand it. I have often been made to rejoice while reading the letters from the lonely ones, setting forth their determinations to serve the Lord. I would say to them, Be not weary in well doing. God has promised to be with all them that love him. There are a few of us here who are trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; and we would humbly ask of all who have access to the throne of grace, to pray for us, that we may grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord, and be prepared to meet you all on Mount Zion.