A Seeker of Present Truth
By Albert D. Rust
Bro. Smith: You may perhaps think it strange to receive a letter of this description from one not a member of your church, but so great is my christian interest and my desire to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus that I thought I would write to you that perhaps I might receive some light upon the subject and to let you know our condition here. I have noticed by what little I have seen in your papers (which I have only had the pleasure of reading through the kindness of Bro. Burlingame of Shiawassee Co.) that you advocate and endeavor to sustain a number of the most important points which by the reading of the Bible I did some time ago permanently decide upon as being inviolable laws and teachings for the christian's guide, and in the performance of which I hope by the grace of God I never shall be found wanting. These points are, first, the keeping of the seventh day as the Sabbath, secondly, the mortality of the soul of man, and thirdly the literal advent of Christ and that not far hence. Myself and wife are the only persons in this town that keep the Sabbath day at present. I have been a resident of Lansing for some time past, where I could but notice the corruption of the churches, in that place as well as in others. Up to that time (about eighteen months ago.) I had not had the light upon the Bible that I now have, never had heard a sermon by an Adventist, nor have I yet; but at that time I made up my mind that if I read the Bible and lived up to its teachings, I could do no better; I did so and received light, and continued to keep the commandments and continued to have light. I found that there were sermons written in the Bible that could not be excelled even in Lansing. I found that in the Bible was taught the observance of the seventh day as Sabbath and no other; and this is the inviolable law of God, while modern preaching teaches the observance of the first day, as directed by the edict of the Emperor Constantine. We have now been trying to keep the commandments something over a year, and although we are alone we have by the grace and goodness of God been induced to establish a family altar, which by the way I think is a very important duty of every christian family. We still feel that we have many errors to be corrected, and many wrong steps to retrace and sins to be forgiven, but thanks be to God that we are what we are. I think that there are a good many serious minded persons in this vicinity that would gladly receive the word of God. They are generally United Brethren. Some are revolting but not backsliding. We do not belong to your church but the greatest of our trouble is now to find if there be such an one, a true Israel, to unite ourselves to. Very respectfully, your lonely and truth-loving brother.
Albert D. Rust.
Salem, Mich., May 1859.