Testimony to the Truth and Review
By Belinda Loveland
Bro. Smith: I wish to add my feeble testimony in favor of the precious truths contained weekly in the Review. Those truths, together with the cheering, comforting letters from the dear saints scattered abroad, greatly strengthen and encourage me from time to time. I have been a reader of the Review from its commencement; my interest and sympathies have been with it, too. I prize it highly. It contains food for my soul. My prayer is that it may rise in interest as long as it is needed. Seven years ago I commenced trying to keep all the commandments of God. My soul was then made free, praise God's dear name! I claimed the promise of our Saviour to his disciples, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." I believed unwaveringly that the Third Angel's Message was the truth of God. I had been in the two former Messages, and was trying to hold fast the profession of my faith without wavering, looking for something to come along to bring God's people together into the unity of the faith, and fit them up for translation. When the light of the Third Angel's Message shone into my heart, I saw clearly that this Message was uniting the hearts of God's people firmly together. O how we loved one another; and I was so short-sighted, as has been remarked, as to think that none but true-hearted ones would ever embrace this glorious truth. My companion and children embraced this truth with me, and we were a happy family in trying to live it out. Although reproached on every hand, the ark of the covenant did abide with us, and we were blessed, as was the house of Obed-edom of old. But gradually and almost unperceived by us we lost in a measure that freedom and power to prevail with God. When we became sensible of the fact, we tried to humble ourselves before him, and often we would feel for the time being the joys of his salvation restored to us; but it seemed almost impossible to retain, as formerly, the testimony that our ways pleased God. Yet we tried to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. In this condition the Lord began to lay his afflicting hand upon us, and within one short year our two oldest children have been laid away in the grave; but here I want to say to the praise of God's dear name, his promise to us has been verified. His grace has been sufficient for us. Although cutting have been the trials through which we have passed, and keenly we feel our loss, I can say, he hath done all things well. The thought of overcoming, and meeting them again where death cannot separate us, at times thrills through my whole being. But O! how I miss their society. Their places are vacant around the family altar; no more I hear their shouts of victory and songs of praise. A few steps from our dwelling is their quiet resting place; but to use their own language, "the glorious resurrection morn is near." They will sleep but a little while; for in bright hope they died. Yes, I believe with all my heart in a little time from this, all will be over. O how important, dear brethren and sisters, that we do the work of the day in the day. The Lord is calling upon us to make one united effort to get out of this lukewarm condition and gird on the whole armor. O ye weary, way-worn pilgrims, that have borne the burden and heat of the day, look up! your redemption draweth nigh. A rich reward awaits you. Heaven will be cheap enough47 I do rejoice to know that we are in Laodicea; but regret that we have fallen into this lukewarm condition. I feel thankful, however, that the Lord has shown us our poverty and wretchedness, and that so many are giving heed to the admonition of the faithful and true Witness. O, what a solemn moment! It seems to me that every power and faculty of our whole being must be nerved up here to strive to enter in at the straight gate. I mean to overcome. Come, brethren and sisters, let us all try to do as we would be done by, and try and encourage each other through the Review. I should be very glad to hear from those dear brethren that have gone West, that we have not heard from. We have enjoyed many precious seasons together, and we miss you much here in Vermont. We desire your prosperity, and hope to meet you when the final gathering shall come, if not before. Yours, hoping to see the King in his beauty soon. BELINDA LOVELAND. Johnson, Vt., May 25th, 1857.