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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 2, 1856

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 8, No. 22.

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Extracts from Letters.

By Editor

SISTER Maryette M. Steere, of E. McDonough, N. Y., sends a remittance to the INSTRUCTOR with the following remarks:—"I have been a reader of that paper since its first publication, but have never given anything to sustain it, for the following reasons: In the first place, we live in very reduced circumstances, and have ever struggled hard with poverty; therefore our means are quite limited; but this is not all. My Father is a bitter opposer to the truth, as presented by the Review and Instructor, and has hitherto forbidden us to pay for the Instructor, although the papers come in his name. It is owing to these circumstances that we have never paid for that paper. But the kind friends have hitherto sent them to usgratis. We dearly love, and prize the precious truths it contains, but it is with the greatest opposition and persecution that we endeavor to keep all the Commandments; but we often feel doubly repaid for all our pains, and sorrows, with the rich blessings we enjoy, while striving to discharge our duty.
"My mother, my elder brother, and myself, have tried, through many discouragements and trials, to keep the true Sabbath, for more than four years. We feel that we have come far short of our duty, oftentimes, but still we are determined to press on towards the mark of the prize of the high-calling of God in Christ Jesus.
"We feel to praise the Lord that he has raised up friends of the truth in this place: one year ago last Spring a cousin of mine began to investigate the truths of the Third Angel's Message, and soon became convinced it was her duty to keep the Sabbath according to the commandment. Her parents became interested in the truth, and soon decided to keep the Sabbath with her, and, I trust, are made to rejoice in the hope of soon seeing Jesus.
"Precious, indeed, are the seasons we are permitted to enjoy together, and we hope they will prove a source of mutual benefit, and encouragement. It has been a long time since we have seen any of the laborers in the moral vineyard; and we have no meetings that we feel at liberty to attend. Cannot some lecturing brother come this way? I think good might be done in the name of Israel's God.
"I feel it is high time we were awake to the momentous concerns of these last days, and that we realized the importance of having our daily walk and conversation just what it should be, and our lamps trimmed and burning; for time is short. We have but a little while longer to stay in this dark, unfriendly world; and then, if faithful, what a glorious eternity opens before us! O let this nerve us for the conflict, make us more watchful, more prayerful, and more faithful. O pray for us, that we may faithfully discharge every duty, fight valiantly, and at last come off more than conquerors through him that hath loved us."
Sister Eliza A. Cooper writes from Bath, N. Y., Sept. 14th, 1856:—"I am still trying to keep the Commandments, and mean through the grace of God to endure to the end, that I may be saved. The paper comes to me indeed a welcome messenger. My sympathies are with those that have borne the burden and heat of the day, and those that are striving to serve that God who is no respecter of persons, but will accept all that work righteousness.
"Truly we belong to the despised class of people; but, glory be to God, if we are faithful, Jesus will own us before his heavenly Father's face; and more than all this, he will appoint us a place in the New Jerusalem. Men can despise us here, but they cannot follow us into the kingdom.
"I am not satisfied to know what is truth, only, but I want the truth to practice by. I want it as fire shut up in my bones. I want the love of it in my very being."
Sister Almira M. Preston writes from Fitz Henry, Ill.:—"I feel thankful that I ever heard the sound of the Third Angel's Message. I am striving to keep all the Commandments, though all alone. My prayer to God is that I may be kept from the snare and love of the world, while time lasts. People are filling up the measure of their iniquity very fast. We hear of wars and rumors of wars; and slavery is increasing in our own land. Those things lead me to cry, O Lord, prepare me for that awful day that is just before us. Sometimes I am in darkness, living here alone, having no one to meet with on the Sabbath; but I praise the Lord that he is able to keep me, and wants me to stand alone and not trust in an arm of flesh.
"I rejoice that I can have the Review to read. It comes filled with precious truths. It rejoices my heart to read about the tent-meetings, and that souls are being converted to the knowledge of the truth. I feel more encouraged of late. The Lord has given me one to go with me; at least, one who is investigating the subject of the Sabbath, and says that there is no weekly Sabbath taught between the lids of the Bible, but the seventh day. She has commenced to keep the Sabbath. If some brother should preach here, I think that she and her companion would both keep the Commandments."