C O M M U N I C A T I O N S.
By Mary A. Eaton
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another." DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—Although I am a stranger to nearly all of you, I hope and trust I am not a stranger to the precious truths contained in the word of God. I feel thankful that the Third Angel's Message of Rev. xiv, 9, has been, as I humbly trust, made known to me as Present Truth. It is as a light shining around my path. I am fully confident in my own mind, after having tried carefully and prayerfully to examine the word of God, that this Message embraces the restoration of the true Sabbath, after it has been trampled under foot by the Man of sin, who should think to change times and laws, &c.; [Dan. vii, 25] and that those who continue to keep the first day, after they have been convinced that there is no thus saith the Lord for the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the111week, but that the change has been brought about by man, worship the beast. Such, after having seen the light, if they reject it, instead of taking up the cross, by striving to keep holy the true Sabbath, will be exposed to the wrath of God. Rev. xiv. 10. O let us pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into the harvest; for truly the fields are white already unto the harvest. I believe there are some in this place who, if they could hear the reasons of our faith in the soon coming of Christ, &c., set forth in a clear manner, would embrace it. I, like some other lone ones, have not the privilege of meeting with those who keep the true Sabbath, there being none for some miles around, except one sister about three miles distant. But the truths contained in the Review are to me as food to the hungry soul, because by comparison I find them, if I can judge rightly, to agree with Scripture. My determination is to strive to have on the whole armor of God, that I may grow in grace daily, and in the knowledge of his holy word. I believe that the Lord has set his hand the second time to gather the remnant of his people, and that he will have a tried people. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial," &c. 1 Pet. iv, 12. O may we be kept from being drawn into the fatal snare of Spiritualism; but may we meet this deception of Satan with the sure word of God, The dead know not anything, &c. I am aware that for this belief which we consider to be plain scripture testimony, we are denounced as Infidel in principle, by those who believe in the immortality of the soul; but we are not of the class who believe death to be an eternal sleep. If we are Christ's may we not look forward with joy to his soon coming, when the righteous dead shall be redeemed from the power of the grave, when they shall get the victory over Death, and be clothed with immortality, and the righteous living be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. But oh! what is the destiny of those who have not a part in the first resurrection? Are they not to suffer the second death? to be destroyed root and branch? I desire to be one of that happy number who will be prepared to say at the coming of Christ, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him. But when I look into my own heart I see much of the remains of sin. I sometimes feel to cry out, When I would do good, evil is present with me; and could I not go to Christ in faith as my intercessor, I should despair; but through his assisting grace I hope to be an overcomer, and finally gain an inheritance in the New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Brethren and sisters, remember me, a lonely one, that my faith and hope fail not.