A Sabbath Keeper’s Testimony
By John M. Mills
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I thank the Lord for his love to his children, and for what he is doing for his dear scattered remnant in these last days of affliction and opposition to the truth. It is about twenty years since I embraced the Sabbath, and joined the Seventh-day Baptist Church.—And in the Fall of 1839, I moved to Illinois, with my family, where we were entirely alone in keeping the fourth commandment. And as we still endeavor to keep the Sabbath, and hold up the force of the Sabbath commandment, and hearing professed ministers of the gospel holding up doctrines unscriptural, I became more determined to take the Bible as the man of my counsel, and trust in the Lord to guide me into the truth as it is in Jesus. And as I advanced in this determination, I became more desirous to know the right way and walk in it. I soon began to see more clearly that the churches were running off the Gospel ground, and became much troubled about it. In the Spring of 1847, we moved to Wisconsin, where we met with the Seventh-day Baptist brethren again, (where we now live.) I still felt it to be my duty to hold up the Bible truth on other subjects; and to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. In so doing, I met with strange opposition, and was turned out of the church. In this, I felt to rejoice, that I was counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's sake. I felt willing to have my name cast out as evil, if I could only do the will of my Heavenly Father. I trusted in God, and prayed earnestly to the Lord to guide me into all truth, and to pity his dear children, and cause them to stand in vindication of the truth. I will here say, that I had not heard of the Advent Brethren until a little over one year since, when a friend of mine gave me one of your papers, and an article on the subject of the Sanctuary; and soon after, gave me a pamphlet containing your position. And when I came to read it, I found to my surprise, it seemed to speak my views and feelings better than I could have done myself.—And I felt to praise the Lord for what he was doing for his dear people; and I feel to praise the Lord to day for his loving kindness. It rejoices my heart to read the letters from the dear brethren and sisters, in the Review, and my prayer is, that the Lord will keep them humble, and lead them on to victory. Yours in the hope of the soon coming kingdom,
JOHN M. MILLS. Utica, Dane Co., Wis., April 22d, 1853.