MARY S. PRIOR by Mary S. Prior

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 24, 1858

MARY S. PRIOR

By Mary S. Prior

From Sister Prior.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I praise God that there is a way for us, though scattered, to hear from each other. I have had the privilege of meeting with many of you in days past, when we felt the blessing of heaven resting upon us. Those seasons are often before my mind in happy remembrance. I look back to them with pleasure. I am deprived of such privileges now, but I am trying to press my way Zionward. And while I am striving to heed the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, and to consecrate myself more fully to God, I have felt sweet peace resting upon me. I am one of the lonely ones, surrounded by the world, and world-loving professors. They look upon me with contempt. I pity them, and my desire is that they may give their hearts to God. Shall I ever be ashamed of Jesus and his cause? O, God forbid it. When I get sight, by an eye of faith, of that golden city before us, my heart leaps for joy. If I am ever so happy as to enter within those pearly gates, it will be enough. Some humble place at the feet of the saints, and I will praise God. My heart says, let me toil on a few more days. Give me the suffering part of religion. Jesus says, if we suffer with him we shall reign with him. It is enough. Why speak of our trials? They are many of them immaginary; but if we have trials, shall we sink down under them? Do we not know that the trial of our faith is much more precious than gold that perisheth? O let us be faithful with one another, and not have those who are called to preach the Word, weighed down with trials that should be settled among ourselves. May the Lord help us to be laborers together.

Yours striving to overcome,

MARY S. PRIOR

North Bangor, N. Y., June 5th, 1858.