Receiving the Third Angel’s Message
By Maria Annalie
BRO. SMITH: I esteem it a privilege to write a few lines to you, to inform you that there is yet another poor erring mortal who has heard, and with joy received, the glad, the glorious tidings, of the Third Angel's Message. I live far from any of like precious faith. There are not any that believe as you do, and as I do now, nearer than Fremont, Ohio. I have never heard any lectures on the Sabbath. I have never seen but two who keep it, in the right way, and they were good, faithful, yet persecuted, sisters, with whom I formed an acquaintance in Michigan—Sisters Eaton and Stevens. I had some conversation with Sr. E., but still more with Sr. S., as I taught school in the same district in which she lived, and boarded with her some during the Summer. When I first became acquainted with Sr. S. I thought that undoubtedly her views were erroneous; but as I was not well versed in the Scriptures, and consequently not able to argue with her upon the subject, I wished her to say nothing to me, but let me live on in the good old way of Sunday-keeping. But I bless God that she did not stop there, but notwithstanding all my indifference and opposition, she still strove with me, she labored with me, and prayed with and for me, until I saw clearly where I was. I felt that the Spirit of the Lord had been striving with me for many long years, that it was about to take its flight, and that this was perhaps the last call I should ever receive, and I did not dare longer to turn a deaf ear to her entreaties, and the strivings of the Holy Spirit. I had once been a member of the M. E. church, and a professor of religion, but did not then enjoy it. I began to pray and read my Bible, together with some works which she had, and a few copies of the Review, until I was convinced that I was not keeping the true Sabbath. In the meantime I had returned to my home in this State, hoping that my grandparents with whom I was living, would also investigate the subject, and receive the truth, and so be a help to me. But alas! they had traveled in the old path too long to be induced to forsake it now. As I saw that I must either go alone, or if disobedient, receive that awful doom which is coming upon all who will not keep God's Commandments, I concluded that I had much rather forsake relatives, friends, and all, and follow my Saviour in the lonely path he trod, than to remain with the great mass who are yet within the walls of Babylon, and receive the mark of the beast. Although I am away here, and feel like a stranger in a strange land, and am not permitted to meet with any but the professed christians of the day, yet my heart is with the commandment-keepers; for I believe them to be God's little remnant, and I desire to be one of the number. Pray for me that I may overcome all, and have my Father's name written in my forehead when Christ appears.
MARIA ANNALIE.
Findlay, Ohio