A Return to Present Truth
By John Wilcox
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I wish to relate something of what the Lord has done for me of late. It is now nearly two months since I embraced the present truth; since that time I have enjoyed many rich blessings from our heavenly Father. I was looking for the Lord in 1844. Although I was quite young, yet I saw the need of a preparation and change of heart to meet in peace my blessed Saviour, who I verily believed would come on the tenth day of the seventh month, to reward the saints in glory, and take vengeance on them who know not God. But in his wise providence we were disappointed in our expectations, being ignorant in regard to the event that was to transpire at the end of the 2300 days, mentioned in Dan. viii, 14. Soon after the tenth day movement, I went to live with those who were opposed to the Advent doctrine, and ridiculed the Millerites, as they called them, and not having one soul to encourage me, I began to grow careless and indifferent, and at length neglected to watch and pray. Soon the Enemy overcame me. I began to partake of the spirit of the world, the allurements of sin, and as I grew older, pride and fashion crept in. Thus, in this poor, miserable condition, I have lived away from my God over eight long years. I came to Bro. Ira Abbey's about the first of January. Soon after, he began to converse with me on present truth, and more particularly on the Sabbath question, and gave me some books to read on that point. But I refused to read them. My heart had become so hardened in sin that I could not bear to hear anything said on the subject. When I had about made up my mind to quit and go where they did not keep the Sabbath, Brn. Rhodes and Ingraham came to this place and held a Conference, during which I attended several lectures. They presented light on the commandments of God, in such a clear manner, that I was compelled to see and acknowledge it. If I rejected it, I saw I should be lost, forever lost. But thanks be to God that he ever has given me a heart to receive the truth, and obey it, and forsake my wicked companions, and follow my dear Redeemer, that by keeping the commandments, the seventh-day Sabbath not excepted, in the Spirit of them, I may be numbered with the company that the Apostle saw on the mount Zion. Rev. xiv, 1. The Lord has led me in a way I knew not of. My heart swells with gratitude and praise to my heavenly Father, when I think of his long suffering and forbearance towards me, while yet in sin, and on the broad road to destruction, and for his kind and tender mercies over me in sparing my life, in giving me a privilege of hearing the last warning message. O, I feel that time is very short, and I want to live very near to God, and be protected in this evil time, and have a shelter from the storm that is about to burst upon this guilty world. I feel to praise his holy name that he has given me a disposition to choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. It will cost all to get into the kingdom. We must forsake all things earthly, even father, mother, brother, sister, if they will not go along with us, and strive to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where moth doth not corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal. I feel that we need to be very humble, and rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake, and be anything in the eyes of the world, if we can but gain an inheritance in the New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, and be permitted to sing the song of the redeemed. Oh, glorious thought, that if we are faithful and walk in the truth, we shall overcome at last, and be brought through, triumphant, and be permitted to sit down in the kingdom of God, and dwell in his presence forever, where pain, sorrow and death will be no more, and the wicked will cease from troubling and the weary will be at rest. Yours in hope of eternal life. JOHN WILCOX.
Brookfield, N. Y., March 19th, 1853.