The Work among the Swedes.
By James Sawyer
From our Swedish paper, the Svensk Advent Harold, Bro. James Sawyer has made a translation of the following interesting items for the REVIEW:— The following accounts which we extract from letters, show that the Lord’s word which he has sent out shall not be in vain nor return unto him void:— A sister in Minnesota writes: “Now I know that the Lord hears our prayers, and that he works in union with his people. Under a feeling of compassion for my neighbors, I have gone around in the city and visited different families, in order that they might be given the opportunity to examine the present truth. “In one family where I left the Harold and a few tracts they said they would examine, and see what foolishness they could find therein. Last week the wife visited me with joy beaming in her countenance, and informed me that the spirit of the truth filled her heart with such joy as she had never before experienced. The whole family rejoice now in the holy Sabbath of the Lord, and with warm hearts reach out after their countrymen. “A man who opposed Adventism to the utmost, and found his greatest delight in a game of cards, has become so interested in the truth by reading the Harold that he now chooses to walk in the way of the Lord, and says he has no more use for the pack of cards. Blessed be the great name of the Lord for the light and power of the truth.” A brother from Wisconsin writes: “I can no longer withstand the truth of the Lord. I have been a leader in a society here for many years, and my house has been opened for worship. God has now by his abundant grace opened my eyes to the holy Sabbath of the Lord, and the soon coming of Jesus, and I rejoice in the Lord for it although I am shut out of the church and forsaken by my former brethren. May God make me steadfast.” “The truth finds its way to the upright. I have just visited brother H. He has attended a Baptist church for many years, but is now separated from its membership because he accepts the last message of mercy. Yet it appears that many of his former friends have a heart opened to the truth. We wish Bro. Lee could visit us, that the Lord’s work might still go on among our people.” Another brother in Iowa writes: “I labored three years in Sweden as missionary among the Baptists. The doctrine of eternity as held by the Baptists appeared to me at the same time to be in accordance with the Scriptures. By reading the Harold light has sprung up in my mind. I have thereby found a better way to search the Scriptures. The Sabbath which the Adventists keep is the Sabbath of the Bible. Blessed be God who allows his truth to be revealed and to shine out in these last days.” “I have read the Harold for some time. I must acknowledge that I now, contrary to my former custom, observe the holy Sabbath of the Lord. Many around me are interested in the forward-spreading work of God, and with eagerness read the writings of the Adventists.” “My dear Bro. L.:—We cannot find words to express our thanks to you as proof of the love we have for sending us writings which are based on the words of Scripture. The Harold leads us into the treasure chamber of the word of the Lord. Forget us not in the future.” There are testimonies we might produce from other States expressing the joy of those who are readers of the Harold. In Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, there are warm hearts which respond to the work of the third angel’s message. The Harold is now finding its way into twenty-one States and Territories. It is erecting beacon lights to the lone pilgrim Swede, from Maine to California, and from Minnesota to Texas. It is quietly visiting about seventy families in Sweden. It offers its blessings to the king upon his throne and to the peasant in his humble cottage. These seventy-three silent messengers are there telling a wonderful story. It is awakening the attention of the people. As they learn that “here is the patience of the saints,” and “here are they who keep the commandments of God,” and that Jesus is soon coming, they begin to look around them and give the alarm to others. The warning leads the people to exclaim, “Why has not this news reached us before?” The north and interior of Europe is being lighted up with the truth of the third angel’s message. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24: 14. It seems that God will also hasten this work; and soon, not only from Asia, but from Africa, South America, and the isles of the sea, shall be sent up anthems of praise; and the whole world will be illuminated by the power and glory that attends the third angel’s message, heralding the return of our Lord and Saviour in the clouds of heaven. It must rejoice the hearts of those who responded about a year ago to the call for means for the purpose of placing this work among the Swedes on a sure footing, to know that their liberality has helped to send the Harold to many who were hungering for the truth, but who had no means of obtaining it. From Texas we have requests something like this: “We have read the Harold the last year. We wish to have it continued. We are poor and are sorry to come in this way; but if you will keep sending it to us we will pay for it as soon as we can. Some of our neighbors like to read it.” From Kansas one writes: “We have been here about five years trying to serve the Lord. The Harold is a welcome messenger, and we wish to have it continued. Our crops have been such that we have barely made a living. We will pay for it as soon as we can. Some of our neighbors79are interested in the truths which it teaches. There is a large settlement of Swedes here, and we could do good if we had some tracts. Can you send us a few?” Other letters from Minnesota and Iowa state that the grasshoppers have left them destitute and they cannot pay for the paper, but wish to have it continued. The gospel of Christ is for the poor. Come unto me and buy wine and milk without money, says the Master. Now if the liberality of our brethren has been the means of furnishing these hungry souls with the bread of life, this has made them co-workers with Christ; and in that day when he makes up the reckoning to every man, he will say: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me.”