Alone, but Alive, in the Truth
THE following testimony is received from a brother who has seen the charge made that the effect of the advent message upon those who received it was to isolate them from religious privileges, and lessen their spiritual life and usefulness:— “In the year 1880, here in Cape Hayti, Hayti, my wife and myself were converted to the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment and to the kindred truths of Adventism, from literature which providentially came in our way, in this strange land. Twenty-one years have passed since then, and we feel quite as comfortable, and as strongly established, or settled, as those that enjoy a large church fellowship; although we have had the pleasure of187seeing only two ministers of our faith, on two occasions. “During this long period alone, although we have not ‘any place to attend church,’ yet we are not without ‘any religious service whatever.’ We have just as public religious service every Sabbath, or the Lord’s day, as Sunday-keepers have on Sunday. Our songs and prayers are heard in the neighborhood; and we have our sermon, too, for we are not lacking in ‘preaching,’ as it is said, for we have wholesome, soul-saving sermons every week from the REVIEW AND HERALD, and we always enjoy the presence of the Lord, according to His promise, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’ As Paul for a long time held service ‘in a private house,’ so do we. Thank the Lord, there is no need to ‘drift into irreligious, godless lives.’ We are never afraid to go with others as far as is consistent. Neither ‘do we live in religious seclusion.’ Instead of being secluded, almost everybody in this town knows us to be Seventh-day Adventists; and as to being spiritually dead, although not a canvasser, I have sold hundreds of dollars’ worth of our religious books, and given away a great quantity of reading-matter; and thirty-six natives are reading our French Signs twice a month. “Lonely ones, do not be uneasy because of being alone. Think of Lot in his time as alone; and of Jacob alone with the angel. Joshua was in a singular position when he said: ‘But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ Christ was alone with the wise men. Peter, James, and John alone witnessed the transfiguration. Mary had an instructive lone sitting at the feet of Jesus. The woman of Samaria had a blessed privilege when Christ met her alone at the well. Time would fail to speak of Luther and others. “Isolated ‘two’ and ‘three,’ let your presence be seen and felt in the strength of the promise: ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ HENRY WILLIAMS.”