p. 1 | AN INTERESTING LETTER by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 5, 1860

AN INTERESTING LETTER.

By Editor

[The following is a letter from a sister of this place to Bro. F. by whom she was baptized.—Ed.]

DEAR BRO. FRISBIE: I take the liberty to address a few lines to you through the church medium—the Review—to inform you and other dear friends west and east of the peculiar watchful care exercised over me by my heavenly Father, who numbereth even the hairs of our head, and does not turn a deaf ear to the feeblest cries of his creatures, not even to the young raven's, how much less to those whom he has redeemed by the precious blood of his dear Son.

My fears were realized with regard to the displeasure my parents would manifest in my being baptized; my father fully believing that I had been dedicated to the Lord by my infantile sprinkling—it is not surprising that he should deeply feel to what depths my “infatuation” had brought me; and viewing the entire matter in the light you are aware he did, he would naturally think it duty to place my departures from his faith in the strongest possible light. I have been until within a few days past with some Methodist friends in the country. They were very kind to me, but labored faithfully to convince me of my errors. I did the best I could to give them the Biblical reasons of my faith, especially on the Sabbath. Those persons not agreeing with us on the importance of the Sabbath question, may think we do not build upon Christ, but on a day; but he declared that he was Lord of the Sabbath, consequently we claim him, and all that he came to establish, as the corner stone of present truth, the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. How then can people get the idea that we reject a part of the Bible, when it is all summed up in the above words? I find there is a great deal of ignorance extant about our belief among those that seem to be desirous of taking the Bible as the man of their counsel and the guide of their life; but such is my confidence in their religious honesty that if they could once be placed where the full blaze of Bible truth could be brought to a focus on their minds, I believe they would henceforth and forever walk in the light even as He is in the light.

I have just been informed greatly to my astonishment of the assault made upon you by an official member of the Methodist church when you were preaching in Monroe Co. Can it be possible that a professed disciple of Him whose teachings were, “When they smite you on one cheek turn the other also,” could so far forget the Spirit of his Master as to flourish a club in your face! But when we take into consideration that this violent opposer was a disciple of the minister who arose the next evening and in a scoffing manner said he was “a millwright” and wanted to “know what you would take for yourself!” it is not a matter of surprise—“like priest like people.”

The language of our Saviour is, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. In it ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace.” Oh, how true these words are! Let the world and the popular religionists call us fools! fanatics! and speak of us all manner of evil. The true disciple cannot be above his Lord; for if they “call the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more they of his household?” and if he “was wounded in the house of his friends,” how can his followers expect to avoid like treatment? If we suffer we shall also reign. Let us take courage and go on our way rejoicing.

Last Sabbath, after an absence of four weeks, I again enjoyed the privileges of the sanctuary, and truly felt the “Lord was in his holy temple,” but we did not all keep silence before him, but testified freely as the Spirit gave us utterance. O, truly a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness forever. I feel established, strengthened, settled, and trust I shall prove firm unto the end. To this end I beg your prayers, and those of all that love Him who is the “Way, the Truth, and the Life.” And I do most earnestly pray that although I have gone forth weeping, I may come again with rejoicing bringing my sheaves with me. I find faith springing up in my heart like a grain of mustard seed, that my father will yet be as firm and as zealous an advocate of the present truth as he has been, and still is its opposer. If we keep his commandments and ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. Also, Hitherto ye have asked nothing; ask that your joy may be full. And where two or three are agreed as touching any one thing, it shall be granted them.

Yours in the truth. M. Battle Creek, Mich., Apr. 2d, 1860.