A Letter of Encouragement
By Mary F. Carpenter
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I am still alone, not so much as one Mary to rest with me on the Sabbath, "according to the commandment," but I am not in the least discouraged. I rejoice that God has yet a people on the earth, and it is my daily prayer that they all may be kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Yet a little while and He that shall come will come and will not tarry. O may we be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless. I love the doctrine of entire consecration. Without this our religion is vain. God has said, Be ye holy, for I am holy. Jesus says, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. God will enable us to do all he requires us to do, if we trust in him in the way of keeping his commandments. Jesus saves his people from their sins, and not in them. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Are not these precious promises? I feel they are to me. I am glad to learn that prejudice is giving away in many places, and the people are having an ear to hear. I hope it may yet be so in this vicinity. I realize that God has made ample provision for all the sons and daughters of Adam. “No mortal has a just pretence
To perish in despair.”
God has said, “Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else.” Jesus says, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” “Lord, how extensive is thy grace!
How rich, how full, how free.”
Before the tent-meeting was here, three years ago, I was in the habit of drinking tea, but I saw that the brethren that called on us made no use of the article. The example looked good, and something seemed to whisper in my mind, you had better “do likewise.” I obeyed without any difficulty, and found (as it is with everything we give up for Christ's sake) that he gave me something better. The words of scripture frequently and sweetly flowed through my mind, “And from all your idols will I cleanse you.” And now, dear brethren, suffer a word of exhortation. If there should be any of you that are yet indulging in foolish habits, such as chewing or smoking tobacco or taking snuff, drinking tea or coffee, or if you are tempted to be conformed to the foolish fashions in dress or in conversation, think of Him, who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor. Think of Him, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; think of his seamless garment, his agony in the garden, and how he tasted death for every man. O if we will think of these things as we ought, we shall be enabled to say from our hearts, “Thy will be done.” Yours striving to overcome. Waterville, Vt., Apr. 25th, 1859.