SAMUEL BILLINGS by Samuel Billings

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 31, 1857

SAMUEL BILLINGS

By Samuel Billings

From Bro. Billings.

BRO. SMITH: I feel to praise the Lord for his goodness and tender care for a sinful being like me. I have been trying to keep the Sabbath for more than two years, but it has been only a form. I did not realize my condition till returning from the Hartland conference, Oct. 30th. All the time that I was there I felt more like persecuting the dear saints of God than I did like trying to seek my own soul's good; but while returning home I began to see my poor, blind and naked condition. I feel to praise the Lord for showing me that unless I took a decided stand now, it would soon be everlastingly too late. I believe that the Lord is about to make a short work upon the earth, and those that do not heed this message will go down to perdition.

I am grateful to God that he has given me the privilege of choosing for myself good or evil, and O, I praise him that I have chosen that which will not be taken away from me if I am faithful to him.

Dear brethren and sisters, I do mean to strive with all my heart, mind and strength to serve the Lord; for unless I am faithful and try from day to day to get the victory over self, and everything that is unlike my blessed Saviour, I shall soon hear the solemn sound, “Depart from me ye cursed.” I want clean hands and a pure heart, and so to live that my name may be written in the Lamb’s book of life. I want so to live that I can feel that the Lord is well pleased with me. I thank the Lord for what he is doing for me. I mean to strive to lay up a treasure in heaven. I know the way is strait, but by the grace of God assisting me I shall go through to the kingdom. I want to go with God’s people, and I am willing to suffer with them.

Yours striving to overcome.

SAMUEL BILLINGS

Paris, Me., Dec. 15th, 1857.