To all that Love the Sabbath of the Lord
By Malinda B. Pierce
DEAR brethren and sisters, it is with feelings I cannot express I take my pen on this holy day to pen a few lines to you. Two of us have long stood alone here as to the true Sabbath, and I have felt so discouraged many times that it has seemed as though there never would be any to go with us; but the Lord has done great things for us, for which I do desire to sink at his feet in humble gratitude. My dear father and mother, although between seventy and eighty years of age, begin to behold wondrous things out of God's law. They have resolved to try and keep all his commandments; and this is the first Sabbath of the Bible they ever tried to keep. O, it is the Lord's doings and it is marvelous in our eyes. Some that may read this have known how very much opposed father has been to the Sabbath; but it seems to me he has received it right; for he truly seems like a little child, all his prejudice and enmity gone; and he seems so humble and manifests such a desire to be right, that we feel to say, what hath God wrought! Mother has never opposed, but could not get clear light; but thank God, the scales of tradition have at last fallen off from their eyes, and they begin to see things as they are. They feel their weakness very much, and desire all the saints to pray for them. O that I could render all that praise and honor that is due to the Majesty of heaven. We that have long professed the truth are striving to rise with the message. I feel as though I could not be left behind. I want to confess and forsake every evil that I may be numbered among God's people. My husband is still in the dark. Do my dear brethren and sisters take hold of his case with all the faith you can get. We try to pray much with and for him, but he says he cannot feel. O the Lord is able to make him feel. I think he is not as indifferent as he was. O that the Lord would undertake his case. Do pray for us all, that we may be a united family, all fitted up to meet the Saviour when he shall appear for the deliverance of his poor, afflicted children. I have realized within a few months more than ever before, that it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom, if at all. May the Lord help me to go through the trials and perils of the last days in that way, that his blessed promise "all things shall work together for good to them that love God," may be verified to me. Your sister striving to overcome.
Malinda B. Pierce.
Andover, Vt., Jan. 16th, 1858.