Keeping the Commandments and Faith
By Lydia M. Ricker
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I feel grateful to God that I live in this time when his truth is shining with such clearness, and the message of the third angel is being given. I thank the name of the living God that I ever had a disposition to heed its call; and that I see the truth of the holy Sabbath. I do delight in the law of God, for his law is perfect. I know that a mere form of keeping the commandments will not save us; but we must have the spirit of it, and have the law of God written on the fleshly tables of our hearts by the Holy Ghost. I have chosen to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. And by the grace of God, I mean to go through. I want to see the inside of heaven, and all the dear saints of God together there to be separated no more. May the Lord help us to keep the word of his patience, and then he will keep us from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth. I mean to live humble, and keep all the commandments of the Father, and the faith of Jesus, [the Son,] so I can have a right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the City. The Church here meet together every Sabbath, and we have some interesting meetings in waiting on the Lord. Would to God we were more engaged in his cause. But I believe the Lord has a few names in Bangor who have not defiled their garments, and they will walk with him in white. Yours looking for Eternal Life, through Jesus Christ by obeying the truth,
LYDIA M. RICKER.
Bangor, Me., Jan. 6th, 1853.