Conversion to the Advent Faith
By Clark Truman
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Out of love to God, and the brethren and sisters that compose the Advent ranks, do I address you at this time. With humble gratitude would I acknowledge the faith that has been inspired in my bosom by the reading of the Review.—O, how it fed my hungry soul! How it delighted my heart to hear from the brethren and sisters from all parts of the country! I call them brethren and sisters. May I not call them so? The Saviour asked, on one occasion, Who is my brother or my sister? and said, he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. So say I. They are my people that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus Christ. It is nearly a year since I began to inquire about the Advent faith. I ever have been an Adventist; but I had supposed the Jews were to be gathered at Jerusalem, and then the Saviour was to come, and Satan was to be bound, and Christ reign a thousand years before the judgment. Oh, how dark was my mind on this subject, and how limited my views.—I can truly say, like one of old, "Whereas I was blind, now I see." I knew nothing of the darkening of the sun and moon, and falling of the stars, and the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and lying wonders as signs of the coming of the Son of man in the glory of his Father, with all the holy angels. These and many others I did not see. O, what beams of light shine upon my understanding now! With what pleasure and unspeakable joy do I look forward to the glorious appearing of our Saviour. Glory to God for the light and instruction that I have received. How it becomes me to deny self and live humbly before God. When I read the letters in the Review it causes love like a river to flow into my soul, and our hearts unite like two drops of water. It gives me pain and distress of mind when I look over the professed church of Christ, and see what a mantle of darkness is drawn over them in respect to the signs of the times. I rejoice to see what God is doing to open the eyes of his people to these things. I shall try and do what I can in the cause. Yours, trying to keep all the commandments,
CLARK TRUMAN.
DeRuyter, N. Y., Oct. 5th, 1853.