Letter from Bro. J. B. Frisbie.
By J. B. Frisbie
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I cannot withhold my feelings any longer, but must let it be known that I have embraced the so much despised message of the third angel of Rev. xiv. Through much prejudice I had become bitter in opposition, until I closely searched the scriptures for arguments against the seventh-day Sabbath. Then on review of what I and others had been about, I perceived that we had all failed on the very important point, of proving or showing fairly that the ten commandments, entire, or in part, had been abolished. And the fact that those commandments were referred to all through the New Testament, as binding on both Jews and Gentiles, without any re-enactment, made our error appear still worse. The puny objections that I had relied on so much, were all removed out of my mind, "abolished," "dead," and "taken out of the way;" therefore I was left with nothing but keen conviction resting heavily upon my conscience, of being a transgressor of God's holy, just and righteous law. When I saw this, oh! how I felt! I was a condemned sinner, exposed to the wrath of God. Then I was humbled under the hand of God, and had a view of myself—my blindness, my nakedness, my poverty, my luke-warmness, my lack of zeal. I had thought myself very good before; for I had not seen anything in particular that I had done amiss: but then I saw that God could not look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, and that none but the pure in heart shall see God; and if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. That we must be holy in our conversation; for in the great day of wrath, who shall be able to stand? None but the pure in heart. I saw there was but one way to get into the light and liberty, and that was, keep the Sabbath, that I had so much despised. Thought I, is this the only way? Yes, the only way! About it I went; and such a trial of my faith, for weeks, none can know but him who has fought the truth, and then turned and embraced it. I prayed, I mourned, and sometimes almost gave up in despair; for the temptation was strong upon me, that I had sinned beyond mercy. As soon as I would stop praying, my mind would become more easy; then I would become alarmed about myself, begin to pray again, and that temptation would roll on again, to almost crush me. I thought then if God would give me the witness of his Spirit once more, I would be the happiest man in the world, and would be very cautious, how I opposed anything again, before I looked carefully on both sides of the matter. I believe we cannot be too particular in this respect. Dear Brethren, God has broken my hard heart and melted it down by his Spirit. He has made me to love those whom he loves and blesses. I feel not to fret myself because of evil doers, neither be envious against sinners; for they soon shall be cut down like the grass; [Ps. xxxvii., 1, 2;] but oh, how I feel for those that oppose the truth, against themselves, and I am determined to try in meekness, to instruct them, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Tim. ii, 25, 26. Last Sabbath and First-day, I had a message upon my mind to deliver on the certainty of the ending of the 2300 days in 1844, in connection with the third angel's message, which shows the importance of the commandments being kept with the faith of Jesus. It is strange to me that any one who believed in time then, does not, at once, see the present truth. I was led to see that the heavens must receive Jesus until the restitution of all things, to their primitive order, which is now being done for the remnant who keep the commandments, [Rev. xii, 17,] in order that they may stand, with a rational faith, through the time of trouble. The Lord blessed me abundantly by the power of his Spirit, to give strength and liberty, which nothing else but his Spirit can give. Bro. Nottingham has come out strong and preached last First-day, in favor of the Sabbath. Bro. Francis Bezzo has, also, taken a strong stand with us. Others are coming out and investigating. The Devil is mad, I know, because he manifests it through our opposers. I am a happy man. Glory be to the Lord, Most High! through Jesus Christ our advocate in the most holy place, before the Ark and Throne of his Father, which is in heaven. I shall feel it a privilege to write considerable through the Review, and am in hopes it will soon be weekly. I am aware that some will be astonished at my change of views, and perhaps will be ready to cast a stone, or a reproach, at me for this. Here I will say, he that is in the Advent ranks, and is without sin on this point, "let him cast the first stone." We have always endeavored to write freely, and speak freely, whatever we at the time believed to be truth. When we see good reason to change we shall always feel free to do no less so. Yours in the whole truth. Chelsea, Mich., June 28th, 1853.