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Do and Know

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1872

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 39, No. 12.

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Do and Know.

I WAS talking with a man who had been an infidel for forty years. So firm was he in his belief, that he said not earth nor Heaven could convince him of the truth of the Bible.
“The truth of the Bible,” I said. “Then you do not believe in redemption, Judgment, Heaven, or hell.”
“No, I do not,” he replied. “I believe and think I am right—know I am—that the whole thing is false.”
I desired him to read attentively one passage: “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God.” John 7 : 17.
He fixed his large eyes upon me, and said, “Do you pretend to say that is in the Bible?”
One week after, I met him at a prayer-meeting held in the woods, and he said to me, “I have read that passage and thought of it, but am not convinced.”
“Have you practiced it?” I asked.
“What is His will?” he replied.
“That you should bless him with all your heart, for what he has done for you.”
“Then what?” he asked.
“Acknowledge yourself a sinner, for not doing it before. You live,” said I; “thank Him for that. You have the offer of everlasting life. Are there no thanks due for that?”
He made no reply. I continued, “When you have done that, cast yourself at his feet, as a sinner, and seek for pardon.
Early the next morning, he came trembling to me, and said, “Pray for me, for I am an awful sinner.”
“Are you ready to tell God that?” I asked.
“Yes,” and he dropped on his knees, and raising his trembling hand upward, cried out, “O Lord, I am a wretched sinner; have mercy upon me. Soon after he said, “Oh, I know of the doctrine—the Bible is all truth. Thanks be to God, I see it, I know it.”
A few days after he said, “Oh, what a sinner; what a Saviour!” and after some months, “I’m a miracle of mercy. Brethren, the grace of God did that.”
“If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8 : 31, 32.—Sel.