Present Truth and the Laodicean Message
Sister S. G. Russell writes from Dartmouth, Mass., Sept. 27th, 1857: I do feel to praise God for his unbounded goodness to me in graciously granting the glorious light of the present saving truth to shine into my poor benighted heart. Of what vast importance is the clear light of present truth, in order for us to be able to shun the various delusions that are being manifested in these last days of peril. It is now near seven years since I commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord our God, and I can truly say the light upon this blessed truth has increased much since that time, for which I would be very grateful to God and those whom he has called to teach his Word. But the keeping of the commandments of God is not all that is required in the Third Angel's Message; we must have the Faith of Jesus also, to shield us in the day of wrath, which is near and hasteth greatly. O that the Lord may grant us a clear understanding of his revealed will, and enable us to have our loins girt with truth and our lamps trimmed and burning. "I wish here to say that when Bro. White's article came out on the message to the Laodiceans as being applicable to the church of God at the present day it seemed most too severe; but I was soon led to see and feel in a measure the fitness of the application. I mean by the grace of God assisting me to arise from this lukewarm state. O for grace to overcome, that I may with all the faithful and tried ones sit down with Jesus on his throne."