EXPERIENCE OF BRO. MASTEN.
By L. V. Masten
[We are happy to publish the following brief sketch of the experience of Bro. L. V. Masten, and the wonderful manifestation of the kind hand of Providence, in his recovery from sickness, in bringing him to an experimental knowledge of the present truth. It will be read with interest by the brethren and sisters who feel for the welfare of precious souls.] DEAR SCATTERED BRETHREN :—I bless God that there is a way open by which I can make known to you his mercy towards me. Although a stranger to most of you, I trust the time is not far distant when we shall receive the “seal of the living God,” and recognize each other upon the sea of glass, to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Most of you, perhaps, are not acquainted with the circumstances by which I became united with the little band who are keeping the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. To such, I will merely state the facts, which, I trust, will increase your faith, and cause you to live humble in the sight of God. About the middle of last April, I entered into the employment of Bro. White, to take charge of the printing department of the REVIEW AND HERALD.—I will not detail the circumstances by which I came here; but it seemed the will of God to place me among his remnant, where I might come to a knowledge of the truth. My Mother (when living) was a member of the Methodist church, and used all the persuasion she could to keep me from Sabbath [Sunday] breaking, and become a follower of Christ. I think you will all agree with me, that a Mother’s teachings have great weight upon our minds in days of youth, and in many instances, the fruit of which is, at some future period, a humble confession before God. Notwithstanding her teachings and persuasions, there was a great query arose in my mind when I was taught the ten commandments, why they did not keep the seventh-day, as God commanded, and would frequently ask the question. The answer I received, was that generally given by those who keep the first day of the week. When I came here, I was obliged, of course, to comply with the request of my employer: that is, to commence work on Sunday, and end it on Friday evening.—This practice went, somewhat, against my conscience; so different was it from my usual practice and early teachings. However, I continued on, quite anxious to learn the reasons of their faith, &c., and if possible, to find out whether or no they had the truth. I attended one or two of their meetings, and heard a lecture, upon one occasion, from Bro. Bates, on the Sabbath and Catholicity. I received considerable light, different from that I had ever thought or even dreamed of. I saw that spirit and power of God made manifest in their meetings which I never saw in any church that I had ever attended. I began to see plainly that they had the truth; and I must confess that I was under deep conviction for some time, but tried to conceal it as much as possible. The light that I had already received, did not seem to be sufficient to subdue my stubborn will, and loose the chains that bound me to worldly pride. I would bring up every argument in my own mind, to convince myself that the Sabbath was not binding. I would say that Christ fulfilled the law; but again, when I read, “till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,” I was lost. I could not find argument that would weigh it down.—Heaven and earth has not passed away, consequently I could not help but believe that the fourth commandment remained, immutable as Him who spoke it from the Mount. This was a burden resting upon my mind which continued from week to week. Sometimes I thought I could hold back no longer; but Satan held me so firm it seemed impossible to break from his grasp. Some of the brethren would occasionally mention the subject to me, and I would have to confess the light that I had already received. I was afraid to have them say much upon the subject, as my heart was so full, it seemed as if it would burst forth and give utterance to my feelings. I could scarcely sleep, for something seemed to whisper, “yield to conviction!” Allow me here to state, that one great and principal reason why I did not become a member of any church, was, that I could not see that spirit, happiness and blessings they talked of; that union and brotherly love, which, in my opinion, ought to be one of their principal emblems. But on the contrary, I saw ill-will and discord, anarchy and confusion among its members. Such scenes as these disgusted me, and led me to conclude that true religion could not exist where such scenes were transpiring; and my mind became fully determined not to join any church, until I found the true church of Christ. Now I have found it! Bless the Lord for his guidance! I know I have found it. The answering of prayer and the blessings of God affirm it. On the 18th of August, ult., I was taken with a very severe attack of the Cholera—the fatality of the disease is too well known by all of you, for me to comment upon. I called a Physician, and his first treatment was to bleed, and after administering a variety of remedies, ended his medical process with doses of calomel. Such treatment is pronounced, by some of the most skillful Physicians, to be sure death! But it seems the Lord wanted to give me another chance for repentance, and gave me strength (through the prayers of the brethren, unknown to me) to be removed from my boarding-place to Bro. White’s, but a few rods distant. The wife of the man I was boarding with, was taken with this fatal disease the day I was, and underwent the same treatment, by the same Physician, and lived but a few hours. On Sunday, the morning after my removal, I was taken again—worse, if any thing, than the first attack. Another Physician was called, and all the medicine he could produce seemed to have no effect. About three o’clock, if I recollect right, the relapse took place, and my Physician pronounced me beyond the reach of medicine. All that he could do for me was of no avail. I was fast sinking into the grave. About six o’clock it seemed as though I was drawing my last breath.—Death seemed to stare me in the face, and visions of Hell and the grave rose up before me. Demons danced before my eyes and seemed to grasp my breath. The history of my past life rose like a skepter to haunt my expiring moments. The scenes of horror, anguish and suffering, no pen is able to portray. I knew I was not prepared to die; I had made no confession whatever, but lay a guilty sinner in the sight of God. Some of the brethren and sisters kneeled by my bed and prayed for me. I appeared to be somewhat relieved, so that I lingered along several days without any apparent change; neither to advance or recede.—Bro. Patten and several others then came to me, and asked if I would give up all to God, and if I recovered, keep his commandments. I replied in the affirmative. They then commenced praying. God, in his infinite mercy, heard and answered prayer. The blessing came upon me like a shower. I soon fell asleep, and when I awoke, the blessing of God was still resting upon me—the relapse had left me, and I felt as if God had again breathed into me the breath of life. I had been in the hands of a Physician until then. I discharged him, and held fast the arm of God and the faith of Jesus. I continued to gain rapidly, and in about two weeks, I was able to walk to the Post-office, about one mile distant. I called on my Physician, and so unexpected was my visit, that he did not, at first, recognize me, not expecting, as he said, to see me out under a week to come; and he pronounced my case a “miracle of the present age.” These, brethren and sisters, are nothing but the simple facts as they occurred in my case—not exaggerated in the least. It is my candid opinion, that, had it not been for my avowal to God, and the prayer of faith, I should, ere this, been slumbering in the tomb. O, what shall I render unto Him for his goodness and mercy! How important that we should fear God, keep his commandments, and live separate from the world. And when we are sick, call in faith upon the Great Physician, who will heal without the use of medicine. Christ is my Physician, my Shepherd and my Guide. In him I have faith, in him I put my trust. I hardly know how to praise him enough. I fear, sometimes, that I do not realize his goodness as much as I ought. My prayer to God is, that he will give me a realizing sense of it; and let light so shine into my soul, that I may be able to out-ride the storm of affliction. I feel determined to continue to the end, let what will come. I mean to try and go with the remnant, and enter the pearly gates of the Holy City. May God bless you all, and fill your souls with his redeeming grace. Yours in love of the present truth,
L. V. MASTEN.
Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 30th, 1852.