Letters by Obadiah Davis

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 31, 1859

Letters.

By Obadiah Davis

“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.”

From Bro. Davis.

Bro. Smith: Feeling, as I trust, to some extent the perils of the way of the remnant in these last days, love constrains me to offer my testimony to the goodness of God, as it is revealed from time to time. But I would also make a few remarks touching some portions of God's word which have been particularly helpful and encouraging to me in holding fast my profession of faith.

I feel to praise the Lord for his goodness to me, and to strive more earnestly to do his will, and live near to the blessed Saviour. I have no desire to turn back, but more and more to fulfill my covenant to live a new life in Him who hath redeemed me unto God and to an inheritance in his everlasting kingdom.

Dear brethren and sisters, take courage and hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering; but let us remember that he that has called us is able also to save to the uttermost. God has indeed been good to us in giving us the light of present truth, and saving us from the delusions which are fast enveloping the world in darkness. The ages of eternity will only fully unfold to us the great blessings and privileges we now enjoy. Let us then, dear brethren and sisters, try to be faithful. Although our way may be through great trials and temptations, yet our heavenly Father has promised that his grace should be sufficient for us. I have passed through some peculiar trials of late, and as some portions of the word of the Lord gave me that help which I needed, I have thought it might be profitable for me to speak of them. I was much in contact with different professors, and my mind became clouded on the subject of faith. I lost that confidence in present truth that I believed it was my privilege to enjoy. I felt my low state, and although much tried could not see my way out of it. While in this state my attention was arrested by the testimony of Paul, 1 Cor. xv, 2. “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you.” And as I read it the darkness was dispelled, and the truth of God's word again shone brightly and boldly out. I felt like the eunuch, to go on my way rejoicing. Here seemed to be the grand secret of overcoming faith, “to keep in memory.” I feel to praise the Lord anew for his goodness. “My grace shall be sufficient for you” has often sustained me in times of trial. Do we enough realize that God has said his grace should be sufficient?

I am glad that action has been taken to carry out the order of the Apostle in laying by in store on the first of the week. It is a duty that engaged my attention soon after embracing the Sabbath of the Lord (about eight years since) and which for the most of the time I have tried to comply with. Some two years since I wrote an article on the subject intending to send it to the Review for publication, but fearing I should not do the subject justice, I hesitated to do so.

To my mind it is a clear duty, and I would add, well sustained by the address from the church in Battle Creek. Yet there is one point in connection with the subject which bears with much force upon my mind, which I should have been glad if the Committee had made the application of.

It is that of “first fruits” or first of our increase being required at the hands of God. In the acceptance of the first offerings of which we have any account, we notice that that one was accepted which was made from first fruits. And to be brief, I think I may say that so far as the record of the Old Testament goes, God has only accepted those offerings that have been of this character. Now were those things which were written aforetime, written for our instruction? So Jesus and the apostles testify. And Jesus has also made the same idea a leading principle in the gospel dispensation. He says “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” The requirements of God (which constitute his righteousness) are then as in former dispensations, our first duty. But God always has had a plan for the practical development of what he enjoins upon his people as a principle or duty; and thus we find it in the gospel dispensation. “Let each one of you lay by him in store,” &c. The first fruits or first increase, being that portion from which an offering is to be made to God, how could the obligation be more fully complied with, than that as we commence our six day's labor, a portion of the first day should be laid by as the Lord hath prospered us. How clearly this also proves the first day of the week to be a working day. Else how could the offering be in harmony with God's requirement of first fruits, and of Jesus' teaching to seek first the righteousness of the kingdom of heaven.

Your brother in Christ. Obadiah Davis.

North Berwick, Me., March, 1859.