Conversion to the Present Truth
By J. R. Towle
Bro. J. R. Towle writes from Woodbury, Vt., May 30th, 1852: “I hardly know how to express myself in regard to the present truth, which has brought salvation to my poor sinking heart. The third angel's message found me in the waste, howling wilderness, bewildered and faint. I was sick of the church, [Babylon,] and left it about four years since, and fell in with the Laodiceans, and there I came very near starving to death. While looking for help from the Most High, one of God's messengers, Bro. Ingraham, came along, and by the help of the chart, showed me the position of our High Priest, and the holy commandments, especially the fourth, “Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy.” The Lord gave me light, and strength, and power to overcome the past, and take hold of the present truth. It is clear as noon-day to me. I rejoice that God's commandments shine out from his holy Temple, into the minds of honest seekers after truth. There is great light in this truth. It has come, in just the right time—just in time to save my companion and myself from gloomy darkness and despair. How clear the messages of the first and second angels look now! Before the third came, there were scales on my eyes relative to the first two. But now I see clearly how and why Bro. Miller began to reckon from B. C. 677. Now I see the 2,300 days, and why they should end when they did, in 1844. I am strong in the belief that time is very short. I feel that I cannot rest, but must cry aloud and spare not, till the Lord shall send forth judgment unto victory, and all the precious ‘jewels’ are brought into the ‘second casket.’ May the Lord speed the message till the 144,000 are sealed. I want to be humble, meek and mild, more like my Blessed Master; for the people are getting angry with God's truth, because the word of God cuts like a sharp, two-edged sword.—The third angel's message hews close, but, thank God, it is none too close. It is just what is wanted. Sinners in Zion are afraid. Fearfulness has surprised the hypocrite. There is such a fullness in this truth that it has completely eclipsed my mind from my former course of proclaiming the gospel, for more than fifteen years past; that is, I see the sword is not muffled now to me. Naked truth shines out of God's word plainer than ever it did before. The Bible is its own expositor. Thank the Lord for his good Spirit that leadeth into all truth. There are several in town keeping the Sabbath with me. We hold our meetings every Sabbath when we are not absent. There is such a halo from the Lord thrown around the holy day, as I never before saw.”