p. 7 | MARSHALL M. TRUESDELL by Marshall M. Truesdell

Publishing Committee · Saratoga Springs, N. Y. · Aug 5, 1851

MARSHALL M. TRUESDELL

By Marshall M. Truesdell

[From Bro. Truesdell.]

BELOVED BRO. WHITE: Your remarks on my letter of April 23d, are satisfactory. All difficulty has vanished respecting the requirements of the Fourth Commandment. It is as plain to my mind that the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath, or rest of the Lord our God, and that no other day of the week will satisfy the demands of the Sabbath law, as the truth that Jesus will appear the second time to them that look for him. God did, we see, require his people for thousands of years to observe the seventh day of the week; not a seventh part of time. And calls it his Rest, his Holy Day. Now it is clear that if the same law is in force, the same day is required to be kept. Indeed, another day is another institution. O, how clear the light that now shines from his holy word upon his commandments. I feel the importance of the Sabbath more than ever before, and feel to call it a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable, (not a yoke of bondage.) How sweet the spirit of the Sabbath. How blessed the day when we can rest, and dismiss from our minds all cares of this life, and then study his blessed word, and meditate on his works and goodness, and worship him who made the heavens and the earth.

May God have mercy on those who are teaching that the Sabbath is abolished, that we may violate the fourth precept in God's holy and just law, and be blameless. And thus leading the flock of God astray from the path which his word marks out for them. "Lord it is time for thee to work, for they have made void thy law."

I must tell you what the Lord has been doing for us in this part of his vineyard. Nine months ago there was not one here that observed the Sabbath of the Lord. But now there are eight or ten that have embraced the third angel's message, and keep the Sabbath, and there is a good prospect of a few more embracing the truth. Nearly all that believe in the speedy coming of Jesus, have embraced the Sabbath truth. Some think the truth will cause division among God's people. But I believe it will only separate the jewels from the rubbish.

O ye messengers of Jesus, that are proclaiming the solemn message of the third angel, do not be discouraged, the Lord is on your side. Be strong and of good courage, for they that be for us are more than they which are against us. Truth is spreading and God's people are receiving it. Indeed the truth has bore away the victory in this place. I do feel to praise the Lord for his goodness in opening my eyes to see the truth. The commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus are just what we need to fit us for the kingdom of God. It is meat in due season. My peace now is like a river. Well might David say, "Great peace have all they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them."

Our conference in this place was one of much interest. Dear Bro. Rhodes, that devoted servant of God, was with us. Also Brn. Alden and Stocking from Bath, preachers of the gospel, who have recently embraced the truth of the third angel's message.

Sabbath afternoon we met at the house of Bro. Upson. Bro. Rhodes spoke on the seven last plagues. He showed us that they were literal plagues, and yet in the future. The Spirit of the Lord was with us and we had a heavenly refreshing season. The exhortations of Bro. Rhodes melted the hearts of God's children. Tears flowed freely, and we were not a little strengthened.

MARSHALL M. TRUESDELL

Catlin, Chemung Co., N. Y., June 19, 1851.