Your ShelfYour Projects

SOLINGEN, GERMANY

4%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 27, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 4.

Read the full edition

SOLINGEN, GERMANY.

By J. Ertzenberger

I have never labored at any place as hard and perseveringly as I have at Solingen. Circumstances have been such as to demand it, and they will constrain me to continue thus to labor for a time.
The battle has been very hard, and my faith and patience have been tried. Satan has been defending every inch of ground. But the truth is steadily taking hold of hearts. Often have I cried to God for help from the very depths of my soul; and, although I have been obliged to wait before seeing any fruit, I could not believe that the efforts which have been made there would be without result.
In my lectures held at Solingen, I have now presented the doctrines of the soon coming of the dear Saviour and the sleep of the dead, and have also spoken on the law question. From time to time, I set before my hearers the practical duties of a Christian. Last Sunday, I spoke for the first time publicly on the Sabbath question.
A good number of very attentive listeners were present on this occasion. Most of them have followed the lectures all through. The Lord assisted me graciously. Hearts were touched by the truth, and God’s Spirit convicted souls of the sure word. It was a most solemn season. And as I shall speak several times on this subject, it will be seen how many will obey. May the Lord help.
As it may be of some interest to the readers of this dear paper, I present here the substance of two letters I received since the lecture of last Sunday. The first is from a very intelligent gentleman; the second is from a lady of education.
“Dear Brother: I would gladly walk in the way you spoke of; but you know my circumstances, and I cannot force them. Such things must be brought before the Lord. He can turn the hearts of men as the streams of water are turned. All you have said has not been strange to me. Before this, I greatly desired to speak with you upon these things.
“I feared a great storm with my wife, and it has come. She is looking at this as at great and high mountains. But to-day I felt the peace of God in overflowing power in my heart. And to him I look for help.
“Several years I have been lonely here. Many times I prayed to God, with deep sighings, that he would send us one who would teach us his holy word as it is; and as such a man I considered and received you.
“You have acted prudently and very wisely here. The field must first be prepared before the good seed can be sown; and thus it is with the word of life.
“The Lord permitting it, I hope to meet with you on next Sabbath.
“Yours, with much love, H.”
“Mr. Ertzenberger: That your lecture of yesterday has made a deep, even an awful, impression upon my heart, as will be the case with every one, you will understand.
“I, for one, took no rest last night. I desired to be sure of this. I sought the Lord, and prayed him to assist me, and to send me light from on high. I searched the Scriptures, and closely examined your proof-texts. But at no place did I find any other response than, ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.’ Thus, I have no way of escape. If I will keep God’s holy commandments, and this I am obliged to do; then I must also keep holy the seventh day.
“Be sure it will cause a great battle and struggle until the victory shall be won. I must quit my place, and entirely give up the plans I have laid for the future. And I do not know how I shall succeed in it. But I hope, and firmly believe, that the Lord will help and lead me into the way I should walk.
“Do remember me in your prayers!”
“Yours truly, J. S.”
To these persons I sent “Truth Found” in German. I have given to several others. But what are a dozen copies among so many? Last evening I received a letter from a stranger to me, who had read “Truth Found” in the German. He appears to be a humble Christian man. He says:—
“By the grace of God I have been led to see and to understand God’s will more perfectly. I am fully convinced that we must keep all of God’s holy commandments, and with them the fourth, which commands ‘to keep holy the Sabbath day’; and I am fully determined to do it. Then in this consists our love to God, that we keep his commandments.
“The Lord has opened my heart and my eyes to see wondrous things out of his holy law. Our dear Saviour says, ‘He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.’ I know the Lord by experience already. But we must grow in grace and in the divine knowledge, ‘till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.’
“Now I rejoice greatly over this great grace, and hope to be united with you.
“My Christian greetings, A. H.”
Feeling the great need of some tracts in the German, I translated some of our small English tracts. I selected from “Scripture References,” “What is Truth?” “Which Day Do you Keep and Why?” and “Who Changed the Sabbath?” They have been printed at Solingen, and already many have been distributed, and they were gladly received. May God make them a great blessing.
Joyfully I put in all the money I had to help some in this precious cause in this manner. The Lord said, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” And it is the sincere desire of my heart to do what I can for the Lord who has done so much for me. May I have strength and grace sufficient!
I read the article, “The Great Work,” in Review, Vol. 46, No. 17, p. 32, from the pen of dear Bro. White, and what shall I say? In what manner can I express my feelings? I am a debtor both to the Lord, and to you, Bro. W. But as it is a privilege to me to work for Jesus, it will be a great pleasure to me to be of some help to you. And if you can make use of me, gladly will I co-operate with you.
I feel to express my deep gratitude to dear Bro. W. for the great interest he takes in the work in Europe; and with gratitude to God I hail the good news that Eld. D. T. Bourdeau will soon come to this country. May God’s angel prepare the way before him! Europe is not America; but the holy truth is everywhere the same. And the Holy One of Israel, who conquered the terrible foe, has said: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” And may God bless you, dear Bro. W., and may this good work be prospered with you and in all places. Amen!
Yours with much love, J. Ertzenberger.
Vohwinkel, near Elberfeld, Prussia, Dec. 22, 1875.