A Desire to Go Forward
By S. B. Warren
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: As I take up the Review from week to week, I am certainly encouraged by reading your letters. I see that I am not alone in the Third Angel's Message. There are a few who are trying to take Jesus as their pattern and follow his teachings; have come out from the creeds, sects and parties, and resolved to keep all God's commandments. We have great reason to rejoice and praise the Lord for what he has done for the remnant who are seeking for the Faith of Jesus. When I look over my past life and see how many wrong steps I have taken, and the moves I have made in the dark, when the candle of the Lord did not shine about me—I have great reason to humble myself in the dust and acknowledge God's goodness and long-suffering to me. But I do know that the Lord has had a care for me. His Spirit has striven with me from time to time. It has said to me "This is the way, walk ye in it." I have been led to ask myself of late, when under severe temptations, Can I renounce my faith in the Third Angel's Message? Can I give up the commandments and go back to the world, or to a dead, fallen church? I answer I cannot. I must go forward, I must double my diligence. I know it would be certain and sure death to go back; for I read in Heb. x, 26, "For if we sin willfully after that we have received a knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." The desire of my heart is to go forward. I have not only heard much of God's truth brought out and made plain and clear, but I have embraced it from an honest conviction that it was God's last sealing truth, designed for the remnant church who are looking for the soon coming of the Saviour. I want the truth should find a welcome in my poor heart, and I hope and pray that the day may never come when I shall doubt in the least that which now looks so precious to me. The Lord has done much for me, and I mean to be zealous and repent of all my wrongs and misdoings, and open the door of my heart and let the Saviour in. Brethren and Sisters, pray for me that I may be faithful to the end, overcome, get the victory, and with you stand on mount Zion. Looking and waiting for Jesus.
S. B. WARREN.
Battle Creek, Mich., Sept. 26th, 1857.