p. 183 | A. BURWELL by A. Burwell

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1859

A. BURWELL

By A. Burwell

From Sister Burwell.

Bro. Smith: I would gladly offer a word of consolation to the dear brother and sister who write from Pequot, Wis.

DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER: Although a stranger to you, yet I am not a stranger to trials and afflictions such as seem to have marked your pathway while traveling through this wilderness world; and while reading your communication in the last Review, I felt deeply to sympathize with you in your severe afflictions, to weep with you who weep, and to mourn with you who mourn. I would not refer to the sufferings and death of your dear children for the purpose of opening the wound that has been made in your hearts of late, and cause it to bleed afresh. I know by sad experience the anguish of your hearts while watching over your suffering children in their last moments. I feel no language can portray the anguish of heart as the enemy, death, enters and takes from our embrace our loved ones, over whom we have watched night and day from their earliest moments, and we are no longer permitted to enjoy their society here, or hear their sweet voices. No, it is beyond the power of human expression. Yet there is One who knows all our trials, and will sustain us under all our afflictions, if we lean upon his almighty arm. And he will not suffer us to have one trial too much to refine, purify and fit us for his heavenly kingdom. O, let us not murmur or complain, but be assured that he has done all things right. And although this world may seem like a dark and dreary wilderness to you, (which no doubt it does,) and everything around you look sad and gloomy, yet there is a sweet consolation in the thought that beyond this vale of tears there is a better land which the enemy can never invade, where we shall not be obliged to part with dear friends; yes,

Where sickness and death cannot enter, And the weary forever shall rest.

I do hope while passing through trials they will work for your good. Confide in God, and these afflictions will work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

We see if we fix our hopes or expectations on any earthly object we are liable to be disappointed. Perhaps our children were our idols, and we did not realize that our affections were set upon them when God required all our hearts; and thus he saw it necessary to take them away that our affections might be weaned from earth and set upon things above! Oh, dear brother and sister, have we not abundant reason to praise God that he does yet bear with us, unworthy as we are, and has assured us in his word if we will open the door of our hearts he will come in and sup with us, and we may sup with him! O, what condescension! what love! The promises look good, the inheritance looks glorious. Praise the Lord, the bright morn of the resurrection will soon dawn upon us. Then let us though loved ones have gone and earth seems so drear, not look at our afflictions here, but look up and prepare to take the crown at the loss of all things. A few more trials, a few more conflicts, and we shall get home. We are almost there. Then God will wipe away all tears. I hope to meet you there. O, glorious hour! O, blest abode!

As to the darkness that may pervade our minds while engaged in prayer in our family or elsewhere, I know of no better remedy than to try ourselves by the word, and be zealous to learn what God designs we should by his dealings with us, look to Jesus who can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, lay hold on the blessed hope, and let the Third Angel's Message find a deep place in our hearts. It will buoy our spirits up amid the darkness of the way, and it reaches far above the things of earth. And that when we shall have done with trials here, our joys may be complete safe in our Father's home, is the prayer of your unworthy sister.

A. BURWELL

Parma, Mich., Apr. 19th, 1859