Progress of the Work among the Swedes
By J. S.
Translated from the Svensk Advent Harold, by J. S. Progress of the Work among the Swedes.
What our eyes behold of the signs of the times—signs which daily multiply around us—invites us to watch for the soon coming of our Lord. We cast a glance over the broad harvest-field, and see how the wheat is being garnered in, in order to preserve it from the coming storm. It is gratifying to witness the advancement of this work of the Lord. Every letter that brings to us the news of a soul brought from darkness to light, and every report which gives account of the progress of the third angel’s message, rejoices the heart, and strengthens our courage. Amid adversity or prosperity, in evil or good report, we find still a determination to fight the fight of faith, and join in the shout of victory; We have lately had encouraging news from Sweden. A Baptist sister writes:— “Brethren in America: In gratitude to God will I inform you that the truths which I found revealed in your publications have helped me out of a state of anxiety and doubt, which had taken possession of my mind on account of not having a right understanding of God’s word. I had often spoken with ministers about the state of the soul after death, but they left me in the same darkness I was in before. This, as well as many other points, has now become clear to me through the Harold, which is a welcome messenger to us. A minister said to me a few days ago, as he was reading in the Harold: ‘This journal you should not circulate, but should throw it into the fire.’ I answered him that when God, through his Spirit and his word, makes his truth clear to me, I will follow it, even if I have to leave all my old friends; for I would rather obey God than man. Praise the Lord! there are a few of God’s children here who in a quiet spirit notice the Harold. They are convinced that it advocates the doctrines of the Bible, and no error.” We have again had the pleasure of meeting our dear friends at Chisago Lake, Minn. One was baptized and taken into church fellowship. From Chisago Lake, we went to Trade Lake, Wisconsin, where Bro. Lindblad formerly labored, and where four families have received the truth. Here we organized a church of seven members. Systematic Benevolence for the year amounts to $20.00. CHARLES LEE. The last of January, I went to Manistee, Mich., where I sought to show the people that the coming of the Lord is near, and that God calls us to put away the commandments of men and accept the commandments of God. I pointed out the down-trodden Sabbath, and showed that the seventh day, and no other, is the day which the Lord set apart as a memorial and rest-day. This caused a great stir among the people. God’s Spirit convinced some of the truth, and six persons decided to obey the Lord and walk according to his commandments. C. LARSON. A brother writes to the Svensk Advent Harold: “As a Lutheran preacher, I have, like some others, sought eternal life in other books beside the Scriptures. By the help of your publications, which refer directly to the Bible, I have found that the Scriptures testify plainly, that in Christ alone is found eternal life. I have not found in all my search that the soul is immortal. I see now that I had formerly mistaken ideas in regard to the Judgment. Men are so deceived, so deeply rooted in the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul, that it appears to them that everything is swept away when it is declared unto them that such a doctrine is not of God, but of men, and had its origin with him who said, ‘Ye shall not surely die.’ Gen. 3:4. There are in all five families here who rejoice in the truth of the angel’s words to Daniel, that in the last days ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ A. K.”