p. 142 | Extracts from Letters

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1875

Extracts from Letters.

SISTER ALMEDA THOMPSON, of Clinton Co., N. Y., writes:—

“I tried to serve the Lord for about three months while observing the first-day instead of the seventh, which I was fully convinced was the Sabbath; and need I tell you how unhappy I was, or how much like mockery it seemed when I tried to pray, or say a word for the Lord? Even now, it seems almost a wonder that the Lord did not cut me down for such hypocrisy. But I found that such religion as that was worse than none, and that the Sunday must be dropped, or all hope was vain; and oh, the struggle between life and death! between truth and error! I cannot picture it. I knew not what to do. It did not seem that I could keep the Sabbath all alone, but on the last Sabbath in March I resolved to venture out upon the truth, and by God’s grace I have kept it ever since. Many and grievous were the trials at first, and at one time my courage almost failed, but now it is only a delight, and I do praise God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe the time is just upon us when he that is holy will be holy still, and he that is filthy will so remain. O my brethren and sisters, let us awake and get out of the way of sinners around us.”

“I have been praying the Lord to send one of his ministers among us that could administer the ordinance of baptism. I wish you could send us a minister that would not fear to tell the people here the whole truth, as they have never heard it.”

E. M. Haskell writes as follows—

“I would like to say to my acquaintances of long ago, some of whom are still holding on to the truth, while some have grown weary of the way, that I still love the truth, and I am trying to press my way to the evergreen shore, where nothing shall fade or pass away. Oh, I long for that fadeless clime! When shall I be there? I am sick of this world’s rude strife. I am laboring for a home in that peaceful clime, where I shall meet all the faithful. Dear reader, may you and I be there.”

W. H. Wilber says:—

“Thanks be to the Lord, whose love and mercy endure forever, I am coming out of darkness into the light of day. Oh, the blessed promise of life eternal! what a hope to live for! It is worth all our efforts. We shall be forever free from sin and its consequences. May it be our happy lot to be of the number, when the glorious Saviour comes, to whom he will say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant;

. . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’ Oh, that glorious day! It will surely come soon!”

Sister Martha E. Swanson writes from Iowa:—

“Three years ago I prayed for light, and my prayer has not been in vain. God has given me light. The love of the world kept me from the path of duty, so that it is only a year since I embraced the truths of the third angel’s message, but God has greatly blessed me during this year. The good meeting at Soldier Valley, Iowa, was a precious season to me, and I felt well paid for the sacrifices I made to attend it. I thank God for so much of his Spirit as I felt there.”

Sister Stenie Larkee writes from Wisconsin:—

“Through the REVIEW will I also tell what the Lord has done for me. He has kindly brought me from darkness into light. Oh! the happy change. One year ago I was a thoughtless, careless sinner; now I am striving to be a Christian, and to walk in the ways of the Lord. I began to keep the Sabbath last fall. I was convinced of the truth by Bro. Olds, who was then laboring at Medina. I pray that by the blessing of God he may turn many sinners to Christ.”

“After I began to keep the Sabbath, I carefully studied the Bible to find whether I had ever been baptized. By reading the Scriptures, I found that I had never been ‘buried with Christ by baptism.’ Then I prayed to God that he would guide me in the right path. I was baptized by Bro. Cady. Oh! the sweet solemn event! Pray for me, dear Christian friends, that I may grow in grace, and at last enter into the joy ‘that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard.’”