Encouragement to Sacrifice and Persevere
By William Harris
Bro. Smith: In the Review which I love for the truth it contains, I find many precious letters from the brethren and sisters. I love to read of their determination to go through, and fight the battle of the Lord against the walls of old Jericho till they crumble and fall, and the saints take the kingdom. I want to say to you all who are seeking to make a sacrifice of your property and your lives also, for the kingdom, I am going with you. A little more praying and sacrificing, and we shall be able to go up and possess the land. How good the sound of a coming Saviour to bring us the victory. Praise his name! In 1842 I heard the First Angel's Message. It cheered my heart, and I have ever loved the Advent doctrine. In 1847 a brother staid with us over night, who told us there was a company that were keeping the Sabbath of the Lord, and that we were keeping the Pope's Sabbath. I began immediately to see if it were so. I found it was. When the next Sabbath came round, our work being done up Friday night, we rested, and never have had work about on the Sabbath since. Myself and companion have stayed here in this dark place most of the time since, and kept the Sabbath all alone. Some of our neighbors will listen to the Word and read, but have no heart to obey the Lord. They say they wish all the world would keep the Sabbath, then they would. I suppose that some in the days before the flood when Noah was warning them of their destruction might have had sympathy enough to say, if all the world would listen to you, we would. I have been looking into the nature of things and find that the world is doomed to destruction. It cannot save me and I cannot save the world. If we will be saved, we must keep the commandments of God. William Harris.
Port Byron, N. Y., Aug. 30th, 1857.