DEAR BRO. WHITE:—The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, (after a delay of two long and dreary months,) comes to my secluded home, as an angel of mercy, richly laden with glorious tidings from that faithful and persecuted band "of whom the world" is "not worthy." And most gladly would my heart respond, to the soul-cheering strains of faith and hope, which breathe through every line of this faithful little messenger. But the consciousness of past neglect of duty, checks the swelling tide. An apology to you, and your correspondents, would seem more appropriate, as my first communication. I know of none more explicit, than a brief account of my history during the past seven months.
In May last, Bro. Waggoner walked near fifty miles, that he might have the privilege of instructing me in the great doctrines of the third angel's message, the cleansing of the sanctuary, and the perpetuity of God's Holy Day. It had a great impression upon my mind.
The doctrines were entirely new. The evidence of the perpetuity, without change or modification, of the fourth commandment in the decalogue, was so clear and forcible, that I embraced it immediately, and have since that time been striving to keep all of God's commandments, that I "may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
At a Conference, held about a month subsequently, in the neighborhood in which I then resided, I was more fully instructed by the public teachings of Brn. Case and Waggoner. All doubts, as to the truth of those doctrines, were removed. My mind was then clear, and my duty plain. But circumstances rendered it impossible for me to obey the solemn injunction, and proclaim this last message to a slumbering world. My whole time was occupied in physical labor; for I was poor, and the cares of the world pressed heavily upon me. I then thought it was my paramount duty to provide for my family, by my own labor, instead of leaving all in the hands of God; living by faith and not by sight. The consequence was, I soon became lukewarm; clouds and darkness shrouded my mind, my zeal grew cold, and my resolution shaken. *
Having previously promised to visit my native land and distant friends, I commenced preparations for the journey, which occupied my time and attention until the very eve of starting, when a letter from Bro. Waggoner (praying, that God might roll the burden of the message upon me, and urging me by the light I already possessed, and the good I might do, to engage without delay, in its proclamation,) aroused my mind to the subject. This friendly admonition, accompanied by a clear bible elucidation of the whole subject, removed all doubts from my mind, in reference to the third angel's message, the mark of the beast, &c., being present truth.
I cheered myself with the idea of preaching the gospel in southern Indiana, thinking, perhaps, God had a chosen few, among my old friends and acquaintances, who might be brought to a knowledge of the truth, and be sealed heirs of the promised inheritance, ere the Beast stamps his fatal mark in their foreheads, or in their hands. But, alas! The seeds of iniquity were sown in my path. The watch-cry of infidelity had gone before me. Professors of religion had locked their hearts and churches against the truth. Ministers would neither hear themselves, nor permit their church-members to hear. The poisonous tongue of slander assailed my character in every direction. My way is now hedged in on every side, and my mission here is ended. There are, however, a few who, like the noble Bereans, "receive the word with all readiness of mind, and search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so." They belong to none of the popular churches, and are free from the destructive influence of creeds and parties. But not having heard the first and second angel's messages, it was necessary I should go over the whole ground, commencing with the Judgment hour cry. I had the use of a Baptist church during the presentation of the first, and part of the second angel's messages. My last lecture was on the fall of Babylon. I tried to show,
I. That Babylon [Babel, confusion] was not confined to the old mother, but included all her daughters. See Rev. xvii, 5.
II. That it was to be a moral fall. Rev. xii, 1; xiii, 1—8; xiv, 8; xvii, 1—7; xviii. The consequence of this plain manner of preaching is, they have purchased a new lock for their half delapidated church, and I must conclude my lectures in a school-house. Thus proving to every discerning mind, that all I have said about the fall of Babylon is true.
But I must close. I have written much more lengthy than I intended to have done when I commenced this communication. But I cannot conclude, without expressing my sympathy and admiration for those self-sacrificing ministers, who are willing to forego the pleasures of life, and endearments of home and friends, and travel on foot, through storm and cold; suffer persecution and reproach, that they may "by any means143save some;" and my prayer to "the Lord of the harvest is, that he may send more laborers;" "for the harvest is great, and the laborers few." That your paper may be sustained, that it may go on errands of mercy, wherever there is an ear to hear; and that you may be abundantly blessed in your arduous duties, is the sincere prayer of your unworthy brother,
J. M. STEPHENSON.
Sanjacinto, Ind., Jan. 1st, 1853.