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The Letter

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 2, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 37, No. 20.

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“The Letter.”

It was a time of spiritual awakening in a small manufacturing town. The foreman in a department of one of the factories became anxious about his soul. He was directed to Christ as the sinner’s only refuge, by many, and by his own master among the rest, but it seemed to be without result. At last his master thought of reaching his mind and bringing him to see the sincerity of God in the gospel by writing a note, asking him to come and see him at six o’clock, after he left “the work.”
He came promptly, with the letter in his hand. When ushered into his room, his master inquired, “Do you wish to see me, James?” James was confounded, and holding up the note requesting him to come, said, “The letter! the letter!” “Oh!” said his master, “I see you believed that I wanted to see you; and when I sent you the message, you came at once.”
“Surely, sir! Surely, sir!” replied James.
“Well, see here is another letter sending for you by one equally in earnest,” said his master, holding up a slip of paper with some texts of Scripture written on it.
James took the paper, and began to read slowly, “Come—unto—me—all—ye—that—labor,” &c. His lips quivered; his eyes filled with tears; and, like to choke with emotion, he thrust his hand into his jacket pocket, grasped his large red handkerchief, with which he covered his face, and there he stood for a few moments not knowing what to do. At length he inquired:
“Am I to believe that in just the same way I believed your letter?”
“Just in the same way,” rejoined the master. “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater.” This expedient was owned of God in setting James at liberty. He was a happy believer that very night, and has continued to go on his way rejoicing in God his Saviour, to point others to Calvary, and walk in the narrow way.
Reader, if anxious about your salvation, be persuaded to believe God when he speaks to you in his word, in the same way you would credit the word of an honorable man, and you will obtain peace through the precious blood of Christ. “HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF.”—Sel.