Bro. M. Edson writes from Ashfield, Mass. : "It rejoices my heart to read the cheering communications from the brethren and sisters scattered abroad. I thank the Lord that he has raised up some in these last days to publish a paper that is not filled up with the fables of the present day, but is laden with the present truth.
"Dear brethren and sisters, as we are commanded in the word of the Lord to exhort one another daily,63and so much the more as we see the day approaching, although we cannot see each other face to face, yet we can, through the Review, write our joys and determinations in trying to serve the Lord. I praise the Lord that I am counted worthy to be numbered among the little remnant that are striving to keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. Let us strive for holiness of heart; for Jesus says, Be ye holy as I am holy. How holy and pure we must be to stand in the great day which is just before us. Sometimes when I look at the straightness of the way, I fear that I shall come short of an entrance into the kingdom, but I do mean to overcome and at last be found among that pure company that will stand on mount Zion."
Sister Achsa Brown writes from Norfolk, Ct.:—"We are strengthened and encouraged when we read the communications from the brethren and sisters that are scattered abroad who are holding on to the truth, and are keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus; and not only that, but by the light we receive through this medium from the holy Scriptures. We esteem it a great blessing. It contains meat in due season for our hungry souls.
"It is but a short time since we embraced the Sabbath; and we feel firm in the faith. We think all are doing right to begin to keep the blessed day; only let them persevere. Surely it is the Lord that has led us thus far, and caused us to receive the light of the present truth. Bro. Daniels explained so clearly the law of God and the Sabbath, that we thought that a person, though a fool, need not err therein. We can now see a vast difference between the law of Moses and the law of God. We can now understand the Apostle's argument. The word truly is a light to our feet and a lamp to our path.
"We stood alone as in a wilderness, bewildered and faint. We knew not which way to turn. We considered the church wrong with which we were connected, and concluded that we would take the Bible for our guide, and live as near to it as we could; for we could not see that the Lord was with them; and their preaching seemed to us like dry husks. When Bro. D. came and preached to us, and showed us the position of our High Priest, and the holy Commandments, the Lord gave us light, and strength to take hold of the present truth. We rejoice that God's Commandments shine out from his holy temple into the minds of honest seekers after truth. There is great light in these truths, by which many of the dark places in the Bible are made plain, so that we can now understand them. Our hearts flow out in gratitude to God for the light of prophecy which shines around our pathway, scattering away all the gloom, and enabling us to discern the signs of the Lord's soon coming. We are willing to confess ourselves pilgrims and strangers here, and we hope that we shall be enabled by grace, so to live that we may enter through the gates into the city."
Bro. H. H. Wilcox writes from Loraine, N. Y.:—"I should like to say through the Review that I am thankful that faithful brethren through whom the Lord could work have apprised us of our lukewarm state. I saw that this was our condition, when it was first advocated through the Review; but notwithstanding I saw that we were mistaken in giving this to the nominal Adventists, yet I was too willing to give it to my brethren and sisters, as though others were more needy than myself; but in this I was sadly mistaken. I am thankful that whilst I was in this deplorable condition, Bro. Rhodes and Goodwin came, and through their labors I was led to see that I was the man addressed and counseled to buy gold. I see that I have borne but little fruit; but I am resolved to arise and start anew. It is not enough merely to hear the voice, but we must open the door of our hearts, and the promise is, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me."
Bro. C. C. Collins writes from Watson: "I think I can truly say, I delight in the law of God after the inward man. The Sabbath of the Lord is a delight to me. I am striving to live up to the light which seems to grow brighter, and shine with more clearness on the pathway of those who are striving to enter in at the straight gate. I am firm in the belief that the perilous times that the Apostle spoke of are upon us; for we find those represented in that chapter all around us. O let us prove faithful, for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."