A Testimony of God's Leading
By Lucy Ann Beckley
BRO. SMITH: I rejoice that God ever had thoughts of mercy towards me, and led me to see that I was keeping the traditions of men instead of the commandments of God, and gave me a heart to receive the truth, and obey it, regardless of the consequences in this life. O how good the Lord is! Praise his holy name! When I look back on the past I can see that the Lord has led me through thus far. Notwithstanding my unfaithfulness to him, his mercy is extended to me still. The Lord has led me in a way that I knew not; for whereas I was once blind I now see. The Bible is a new book to me, and brings things before our minds so clear, I often exclaim, Why are people so ignorant of the plain truths of God's holy word? It contains a truth perfectly adapted to this generation; but there are but a little remnant according to the word, that will receive this glorious truth into good and honest hearts, and be sanctified through it. But I mean to strive to enter in at the strait gate. By God's grace assisting me I am resolved to go through. I know we must serve God with the whole heart, or we shall come short at last. I do not expect to go to heaven on flowery beds of ease, but through much tribulation I expect to enter. I know but very little what suffering is, compared with what some of God's dear people have suffered; but I have a desire to choose the suffering part of religion, to love God with my whole soul, and my neighbor as myself. I mean to heed the counsel of the true Witness, to buy gold tried in the fire, white raiment and eye-salve, that I may see all the truth as it is in Jesus, and be sanctified through obedience to the same, and have a shelter in the day of the Lord's fierce anger, that is very soon coming upon the earth. God has not left his people in darkness that that day should overtake them as a thief, but his mercy still lingers to give his people time to get ready to escape all those things that are coming on this earth; and if we are left without a shelter from the storm of the wrath of God, we alone must bear it. O brethren and sisters, let us gird on the whole armor, let us awake out of our cold and stupid sleep, and work for God while the day lasts; for by and by we cannot work for God. The Lord is soon coming, and if we sleep on, that day will find us without that preparation which we must have before we can see him in peace, without spot and blameless. I feel the need of a deeper work of grace in my heart. I have been trying to overcome every besetment, but I see I have a great deal to overcome yet, before I shall be fully prepared to receive the refreshing that all will have who are ready for it. Those who are making speedy repentance of their sins, and trying to overcome every wrong word and action, will most assuredly overcome, have a shelter in the time of trouble, and at last stand on mount Zion with the Lamb. It has been and still is my humble prayer that the purifying process may go on in the hearts of all the professed Sabbath-keepers, until they are just right, and all speak the same thing. Then Jesus will have a people that he will not be ashamed of, and I desire with that number to be found. I feel that there must be a great work done for us before we shall be prepared for our blessed Saviour. I have learned by experience that it is no small thing to be a christian and have the approbation of God, and that a form of godliness will not be acceptable to him, nor give us admittance through the gates into the holy city; but we must keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; for blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life and enter in through the gates into the city. I have stood alone in this place until a little more than a year ago the Lord raised up two families to keep the Sabbath. The past Summer I have been led to rejoice in seeing precious souls added to our number of such as I hope will be saved. Although some considerable distance from this place, I have had the privilege of meeting from time to time with them. The tent-meetings held at Norfolk and Canaan resulted in much good, yet I think a longer stay would have set the truth before the people more fully. Bro. Daniels meets with them occasionally, and there seems to be an interest to hear the reasons of our hope still, and my prayer is that the Lord will raise up servants, and fully qualify them to sound the last Message of mercy through the wide-spread harvest-field, until every honest one has an opportunity to hear the truth. LUCY ANN BECKLEY.
West Winsted, Ct.