HOW I CAME TO BE A SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST.
By Josephine Cowgill
UNTIL the year 1884 I had known but little of the doctrines taught by Seventh-day Adventists, had only heard their teachings spoken of as being full of error. But during the World's Exposition in the city of New Orleans, a little company of Seventh-day Adventists came to this city to establish a mission. Here I was engaged in Methodist missionary work and met with this people. I shall never forget my first impressions of the Adventists. The anointing of the holy One was upon them, I could see it in their faces; and their dress and manner seemed to me to be more in accordance with the Bible requirements than that of any people I had ever met. I wanted to love them, but thought of what I had heard of their "dreadful anti-scriptural teachings," and felt that I must avoid them. I tried to do so, but we would meet and they would hand me their papers and invite me to their Bible-readings. I feared to read their papers or give them to others, and so, for a long time, would secretly destroy them. It seemed to me so strange that such seemingly good people could teach such strange doctrines. But with sweet Christian spirit they continued their efforts to interest me. One day, with much hesitation, I went in to one of their Bible-readings. The subject of that reading was the Sabbath. Step by step we were taken along through Old and New Testaments, until all were clearly convinced that the seventh day was the Sabbath, and ought to be kept. I was then asked whether I would obey God and keep that day holy. I consented to do so, and was beginning to feel a considerable interest in these Bible-readings when some of my Methodist people ascertained this and reproved and warned me against Adventist teachings. Reluctantly, I broke off from the society and teachings of this dear and godly people. But in my own mind I could not help contrasting the sweet Christian spirit, the beautiful humility, the earnest devotion, and conscientious keeping of all God's commandments—I could not help contrasting these with the pride, worldliness, formality, unholy ambition, and lack of spirituality of the church people with whom I was associated. My head and heart ached over these things, but when I spoke of them it only brought persecution upon me. For two years I was very sad and much discouraged. Then another company of Adventists, Brother and Sister Gibbs, with some others, came to New Orleans. I was soon convinced that they belonged to the same society that the other company of Adventists did, yet because of some of the "strange and anti-scriptural doctrines" I had been told they taught, I resolved not to attend their meetings nor to form any acquaintance with them. But, thank God and them, they did not let me alone, but wherever I met them they were kind and good, and urged me to attend their Bible-readings.516At that time persecutions in the church of which I was a member were increasing against me. Oh, how my heart longed and cried out for a true people of God! It seemed to me that God in Heaven was looking down upon the popular churches of to-day, and saying, as he did to ancient Israel: "Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!" This word of God was "like a fire in my bones." I tried to lift up my voice against worldliness and sin, but the seal of silence was placed upon my lips, and at times I wept until I could weep no more. Many of my professed friends became strange to me and would "pass by on the other side" of me in my grief. But not so with dear Brother and Sister Gibbs, they drew closer to me in my grief. They came to me with such sympathy and help and precious truth as can bind up and heal and save a poor broken heart. Their Christ-like spirit won me. I saw that, like their divine Master, they were no respecters of persons. They took me when I was but the refuse of another church. Their kindness removed my former prejudice against their teachings, and quickly opened my heart and ear to the same, and soon I was convinced that their teachings were only the pure word of God. And under these teachings I was soon convinced that it was my duty and blessed privilege to withdraw from the church of which I had been a member, and unite with the dear people who "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." It was a sweet day to my soul when I did this. Peace like a river flowed through my heart. With this people I delight to worship. My long-starved soul now feeds on wine and milk and honey, and I find a power and blessedness brought out of the word of God in their Bible-readings which I had not before known. And, oh, these sweet lessons of humility and love which my cold and proud heart so much needed, and the freedom which I now have from a cold and worldly church! How these things make me love my blessed Lord for taking my feet out of the miry clay and placing them upon a rock! "This is the way I long have sought,
And mourned because I found it not." And what a relief it has been to have cleared away by the word of God that dreadful doctrine of an eternally burning hell. God only knows the days and nights of intense suffering I have had on account of this dreadful belief which I have constantly taught to others, one of whom I have reason to believe is now in an insane asylum because of what he heard me say on that subject. Now I can love God more than ever before. "God is love" seems written on everything. How unspeakably precious are the lessons we have from the Bible in regard to the new earth and the second coming of our dear Lord! And how I love the tracts and papers—precious messengers of love and truth, which my ungodly hands used to tear up! Yes, I am glad that I am now a Seventh-day Adventist. May I ask an interest in the prayers of this dear people, that I may be kept faithful until Jesus comes. JOSEPHINE COWGILL.
New Orleans, La.