Conversions Through Adventist Literature
SR. M. NELSON writes from Allegan Co., Mich.: I was a member of the Methodist church about eighteen years, and I enjoyed myself with them until I became convinced that as a body they had fallen from grace, and were conforming to the fashions of the world in place of striving to serve and obey the Lord. I was often pained to see the pride and vanity that were in the churches, and had often thought of withdrawing and trying to serve the Lord alone, but fearing that in so doing I might fail, I remained with them until I became acquainted with the Advent people. A lady of my acquaintance offered the Review to me to read. I accepted of the paper and liked it so much that I thought I would like to become acquainted with the people. In a few weeks I ventured to go to meeting, which I continued doing about two years, as often as I could, and borrowed as many books as I could get time to read. I at last got “The Three Messages,” and by reading that became satisfied that if God had a people now it was the Advent people. I then commenced to keep the Sabbath, and united with them, and intend to go through with them. SR. H. E. LOVEJOY writes from Saginaw Co., Mich.: I have been busy for the last two years in distributing the silent messengers issued from the Review Office, and to my great surprise I find they will penetrate, soften and subdue, the hearts of a class of people that no other doctrine will have any effect upon; therefore I believe it is my duty, although I am a member of the M. E. church, to scatter tracts and do all in my power, with the help of God, to win souls to Christ. I am informed that to pursue this course is leading from, instead of toward, the mark, but of a truth I cannot see it in this light. First, because I have no sympathy with Spiritualists in any way, shape, nor manner, for I heartily indorse the doctrine of the unconscious state of the dead. Second, I believe the Son of God came in the flesh, was crucified, was resurrected, was seen of the apostles to ascend into heaven, and will, in like manner, be seen of men to descend. I believe this earth is to be renovated and become the saints’ inheritance. I believe it our duty to keep the commandments of God, that the whole ten are just as binding now as they were the very day that God descended upon Mount Sinai and proclaimed them to Moses. I often hear it remarked, and by those who profess to preach the gospel of Christ, that the commandments contained in the decalogue were not binding any longer than till the crucifixion of our Lord, when they were all nailed to the cross and taken out of the way, and a new commandment given, that we should love one another. If I could once be convinced of the truthfulness of this doctrine, I should believe in universal salvation at once. I should no longer believe in a Judgment; for without law how can our Judge condemn the criminals? If there is no law there is no sin; for sin came by transgression of the law. But if the law has been abolished there is no longer any sin; for there is no law to transgress, neither can there be a Judgment, for there is no law to judge by. I wrote you last fall that one had embraced the Sabbath. Since then I have distributed all my papers except four, and many have been convinced of the truthfulness of the doctrine, and I thought the harvest was about ripe for a laborer, when lo, to my surprise, an opposer came in to throw confusion into our midst. We need help. Cannot some one come and labor a few weeks? BRO. N. W. VINCENT writes from Jeff. Co., Kansas: Immanuel’s offering is my hope, his righteousness my glory, his pleasure my object. He died that we might not die for our vile, death-deserving sins. Only by such suffering could he become our Saviour. “Be then his wounds my cure, his grief my bliss; My crown his thorns, my death be lost in his.” I want to please Jesus, and finally triumph in his glory. I want to see his smile on me. I want to hear his welcome of sweetest melody, when he descends in majesty to avenge his elect, to destroy the wicked and forever save the righteous. Beloved of the Lord, let us not love the world, but be self-denying strangers in it, watching pilgrims, journeying toward our Father’s house, seeking that heavenly country, looking for the city of God, the holy, beloved New Jerusalem. Pray that we may meet there “purified, and made white, and tried,” to be forever happy with Jesus. BRO. D. A. SIMMONS writes from Warren Co., Pa.: What words of comfort and consolation our dear Saviour spoke to his sorrowing disciples as he was about to leave them, I go to prepare a place, and will come again, &c. No wonder their hearts sank within them, as they were exposed to all the malice and cruelties of the friendless world; but the words, sweetly spoken, I will come again, and receive you, were like soothing balm to their aching hearts. They felt that they could endure unto the end, suffer privation, persecution, and even death, for their Lord and Master, knowing that their reward would be great. And he has gone to prepare mansions for us also, and soon will he come to receive us. And while mercy lingers a little while longer let us accept of his pleadings to come and be healed from all our backslidings and washed from our iniquities, and be one of that happy number that shall have a mansion in our Father’s kingdom. Do we realize as we should that time is closing, and that only a few days are allotted to us to prepare for that solemn event? SISTER P. L. CORNELL writes from Kent Co., Mich.: I feel truly that I am least of all; but I would not fold my hands and say I have nothing to do. No, the one talent will at last be called for, and woe to the one who has laid it away and let it remain idle. Let us arouse and seek a deeper work of grace, a closer walk with God, and send forth the cheering testimonies to encourage the lonely. How often my own heart has been made to rejoice, when away from all of like precious faith, by reading the cheering epistles from brethren and sisters whom I have never seen; and in lonely hours, I have been led to look out a little way from this and anticipate that happy meeting when sin and sorrow shall forever cease. Oh! shall I be ready to meet that happy, joyous company? When I realize what a great work it is to be a Bible Christian, and that not one will ever be permitted to enter those bright mansions Jesus has gone to prepare, who has not washed his robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, I fear it is not for me; but if I perish, I will perish trying. Let my name be cast out as evil by a scoffing world, let those once dear by the ties of nature charge me with infidelity, heresy and foolishness, and say, “You read too much!” I count it nothing, if I may but win an unfading crown and be permitted at last to dwell with the saints of all ages, in the earth made new, where sin will never blight, and sorrow never be permitted to enter.