Alone in Keeping the Sabbath
By M. A. E. Townsend
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—As a reader of your excellent paper, I feel it my duty to say something in defense of the truth, and encourage you in the prosecution of your all-important work, by saying that the Review is a welcome visitor. The truths which it contains are appreciated by me, and I am glad to learn of a few who are trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of the gospel. I am as it were almost alone here, in reference to keeping the seventh-day Sabbath; yet “I wish to tell the story,
Of bleeding dying love,
On earth, and then in glory,
With my dear friends above.
My soul is filled with gladness,
Christ rolled my guilt away;
He banished all my sadness,
And turned my night to day.”
O, may the Lord help us to walk not in the “counsel of the ungodly”—those professing godliness, but denying the power; who introduce worldly and popular things into the church, which never did and never will meet the approbation of God; “nor stand in the way of sinners”—those who are openly profane, with whom, if Christians associate there is danger of partaking of their spirit; “nor sit in the seat of the scornful”—those who are destroying, by their sophistry, the faith of many; but according to the word of God, they shall not proceed much further. Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom; but he that doeth the will of our heavenly Father. O, may he help us to keep his commandments, that we may enter into life eternal. I have never had the privilege of hearing one of our faith preach. O, that some might be directed this way, that we may be taught more perfectly in the way of life. I pray daily for the prosperity of Zion, that the little flock may hold out faithful to the end, that although I may not see any of them on earth, I may meet them in heaven. M. A. E. TOWNSEND.
Connotton, Harrison Co., O., July, 1853.