Communication from Bro. Daniels.
By Dexter Daniels
BRO. SMITH:—Thinking some of my friends might be glad to hear from me, and know what I am doing, I would say a few words for their encouragement. I am trying to obey all ten of God's Commandments and the Faith of Jesus. I hunger and thirst for full salvation. I have of late sought for more holiness and a closer walk with God. I want to walk with God fully. I love his holy law. I know also that I must not only keep it outwardly, but I must have its principles within. Do we love that holy law as we should? Do we love its principles? If we have them written in our hearts, we shall love to keep them. If there was no law against doing wrong, a good heart would love to do good, without thinking of the penalty. Those that have to compel themselves to be good, are not good at heart. I have been trying to search my heart of late to see if I have the true principles of righteousness within. Search me, O, God, and try my ways, and see if there is any wicked way in me. I know that those who bear the vessels of the Lord, must be holy and clean. Only such will enter the Holy City. I have been trying to proclaim the Third Angel's Message in this vicinity. I think I have done my duty in this place. One year since I held six meetings in the school-house near my home. Only one embraced the truth, and he gave it up in a month or two. He was a backslidden Adventist. I held one meeting at my home. Some came out to hear, mostly young people: they were all convicted of the truth and acknowledged it, and said they should keep the Sabbath if they ever were converted. I tried to show them that nothing could convert them only God's holy Commandments. But conviction soon wore off and I am alone in this place. Last Fall I went to Norfolk near sister Beekly's, by her request and held several meetings in the school-house. I found ears to hear, and after one or two lectures, five came out and decided to keep the Sabbath under the Third Angel's Message. They seem to be fully decided. Two more acknowledged the truth: a man and his son who is a school teacher. He said that he would keep the Sabbath if his father did. His father said that he would keep it if it was not for his wife and neighbors. He acknowledged the truth, and said it was even so. I pray that he may come out and be decided to follow the whole truth. There is an ear to hear the reasons of our hope in other places. But who is sufficient for these things. I feel that I must be holy and pure, and walk with God daily if I do any good. God must do it, or it will be good for nothing. The Third Angel's Message is plain, and the mark of the beast is also plain. God in speaking of his Commandments says, Thou shalt bind them for a sign (mark) upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes;—in the forehead and in the hand. We must be holy in life, and all manner of conversation. We must not engage in foolish and unholy conversation with the worldling. We must watch and be sober, or we shall come short at last. Shall I be one of that holy number that shall be without fault before the throne of God? How frail I am, but I will look again towards his holy temple, My prayer is, Cleanse me from unholy thoughts and unholy desires, and from all my sins, that I may be found at last among the holy ones. Your unworthy brother,
New Boston, Mass. Dexter Daniels.