STIRRING NEWS FROM SWEDEN.
By J. S.
The following is an extract from Sister White’s appeal of Feb. 6. The letter which accompanies it, is right to the point. “In my last vision I was shown the importance of the work in Northern Europe. The people are awakening to the truth. . . . I was shown that many in Northern Europe had embraced the truth through reading. Their souls were hungering for light and knowledge, when some tracts or papers came into their hands, and they were represented to me as reading. The wants of their souls were met; the Spirit of God softened and impressed their hearts; tears were in their eyes, and sobs came from burdened hearts. They knelt with the leaflets in their hands, and with earnest prayer besought the Lord to lead them, and help them receive the light as it was from him. Some surrendered themselves to God. Uncertainty was gone, and as they accepted the truth upon the Sabbath of the fourth commandment they felt that they were indeed standing upon the Rock of Ages. Many persons scattered all through Northern Europe were presented to me as being ready to accept the light of the truth.” The following letter from one who resides west of Stockholm is addressed to a sister in America who lives near Ishpeming, Michigan:— “DEAR SISTER ANNA LILJA,— “Since I received your letter I have received another from Battle Creek, Michigan, inclosing a blank. This was for me to sign, and return with the subscription enclosed. But how to do this was the question. There I was with two empty hands; but I could not bear to do without the paper. We invited our neighbors to join us in raising the subscription price. The circumstances of some would not permit, and others said the Harold went to such extremes that they would not help. And in case I collected enough to make up the subscription, another difficulty came up as to what currency to send. Day after day passed, till yesterday N. went to town, and the Harold was handed him. He had asked how to get money to America by letter, but could get no exchange for so small an amount. When he came home, he said, ‘Can you guess what I have found to-day?’ He said it was something which we prized very much. I said, ‘There is nothing I prize more than the Harold, but I do not believe you have that.’ He showed me the Harold, saying, ‘Do you believe it now?’ Then my wife and I, together with the children, were greatly astonished, and all began to express their gratitude to God for this gift through our dear sister in America; for we believed that you were the means, in the hand of God, of providing us with the Harold.” “I assure you that it was sad to read the last number of our good paper, hardly expecting to get any more the coming year.” “You can hardly believe, dear sister, the happiness we have evenings when we sit down to study. One takes the Harold and another the Bible, then, after earnest prayer to God, we begin the lesson. Sometimes we become so interested that we cannot stop till after midnight. New interest is awakened as we read. It seems to me that the Adventists are the clearest Bible interpreters found among Christian professors. May God’s blessing rest upon their work, that they may reap a rich reward in Heaven. It rejoices us to read in the paper of the progress of the truth among the nations. Tockzelius, a colporteur, has written to the Harold, and made known to the Adventists his acceptance of the truth. He came here last summer, and began to read the Harold. We then offered to lend it to him. He thanked us for it, and now we understand he both believes and preaches the truth.” The following is an extract from a letter written by this brother’s daughter to the same sister in America:— “BELOVED SISTER IN CHRIST: We are very thankful for the truths which are set forth in the Swedish paper. I love the Adventists. We are well supplied with men who preach the word of God, yet I sigh for the time to come when God shall send a Seventh-day Adventist minister here. I believe if two could be found here to take a stand for the truth, I would be the third; but to take the first step I am not able. May God forgive me for this. I pray that God may prepare us to be established, and remain firm unto the end, gladly awaiting the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” The truth is getting a foothold in several different parts of that country. And as our warm-hearted brethren in America continue to send their papers and tracts, the work is continually spreading. We see in this the power of the tract and missionary work. The Lord calls for laborers; some respond. He calls for more; and in every appeal he says: “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” It is evident that some one has been praying. And yet the harvest is truly plenteous. As but few men and women respond, the Lord is using other means—his silent messengers—through which he will advance the work. Modern inventions are being rapidly turned to hasten the progress of this closing work. The cars and printing-press are mighty means which he will use in warning a guilty and ungodly world. The message is going on the wings of the wind. The Lord says he will make a short work in the earth. He can and will turn fire, water, steam, electricity, and even wicked men, to help speed on this closing work. And may God help us to keep pace with his opening providences.