p. 111 | Extracts from Letters

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 19, 1861

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. J. Avenell writes from Linden, Wis. : "I would say to the saints scattered abroad that I am still seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, believing that all other things necessary will be added unto me. For the kingdom of God is righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Let us then seek to know our duty, and when known, perform that duty with pure motives and the result will be peace of mind."

Sister C. M. Lunger writes from Portland, Mich. : "There are a few of us here striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. We have meetings most every Sabbath. Two more families have lately been added to our number; and we feel to praise the Lord. There seems to be an interest in present truth. O may we hold out faithful to the end, is my prayer."

Bro. Wm. E. Newcomb writes from Hampden, Wis. : "There are a few Sabbath-keepers in an adjoining town with whom myself and my father's family meet on the Sabbath for prayer-meeting. Bro. Sanborn came this way and preached the word of life. I attended his lectures out of curiosity to hear what new thing he had to say; but I was thereby convinced of the truth as it is in God's word. I saw that what I thought was taught in holy writ was not there. I have found much peace in believing. I laid aside error for truth, commenced to keep the Sabbath and to prepare for the coming of Christ, that when he shall appear I may not be found wanting. I mean by the grace of God assisting me, to be an overcomer through the blood of Him that hath loved us. I love to think of the coming of the Saviour, and look forward to the time with joyful anticipations that I shall then receive a crown of immortal glory. The christian's life is a constant warfare. Satan is arrayed with all his host to turn erring and sinful man aside from the true path and ensnare him in the business and cares of this life. It requires our greatest efforts to resist his temptations; and in so doing we should look to God for help. It will be through his grace that we overcome at all. Our prayer should be for his blessing to protect us in this hour of peril."

Bro. J. I. Shurts writes from Millersburgh, Iowa : "I have read a few numbers of the paper, and have been led to see the error of my way, and that the path of sin is a rugged path to travel in. I am now striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; and my prayer is that I with the rest may overcome."

Bro. Lewis Martin writes from Bennington, N. H. : "I would say that the blessed hope still cheers me on my lonely pilgrimage. It surely looks as though the time of trouble [Dan. xii, 1] was very near at hand. My prayer is, O Lord, prepare thy people to meet it. May the Lord sustain you in your arduous duty by his sustaining grace, and may we at last meet on mount Zion, is the prayer of your unworthy brother."

Bro. A. Amburn writes from Vinton, Iowa : "It has only been about six weeks since I embraced the Advent faith; and although I have been a member of the M. E. church during the last five years, I must confess that I never could see so clearly the necessity of living a holy life as I have since I came out and united with the little band of Bible christians, called by my Methodist friends, Heretics. The Bible seems to be a new book to me. Every time I read it I can receive new light. I realize that I have been trusting my salvation on the doctrines of men more than on the word of God, but I am willing now to be led by the Bible, to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. We continue to have good meetings. We meet together three times a-week, and never fail to receive a blessing from the Lord. I ask the prayers of the church that I may be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. Many and sore no doubt are the trials that await me, but I desire to lean upon Jesus, casting all my care upon him, and I trust he will sustain me."

Bro. J. Philbrick writes from Stoddard, N. H. : "I have thought many times of late that I should like to write a few lines for the paper, and then I would think that there are others within the bounds of my acquaintance that have the root of the matter in the heart, and are far more capable of writing than myself; why don't they write? But I have concluded it is no excuse for me. No brother can do what the Lord requires of me; neither does the Lord require of me that I am unable to perform. No: his yoke is easy, blessed be his dear name! "I often think with bitter weeping how much the Lord has borne with me, all my life long, and how little I have loved him in return. I am astonished to think how careless I have lived, how little I have realized the importance of a deep heart-work, of cultivating those sweet, heavenly graces that should always characterize, and will follow the meek, humble follower of Jesus. O how much of that sweet, heavenly, lamb-like spirit I need. I long to have every thought, word and act, brought into complete captivity to the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. I want to feel through obedience to the truths connected with the third angel's message, that I am his, and he is mine. Nothing short of this can answer the hungering and thirsting of my poor heart. I am satisfied that we must feel the reviving, transforming power of present truth, to be fitted up to stand against all the wiles of the enemy, and to have eternal life when the blessed Saviour comes. "O ye tempted, tried and afflicted ones, look up. Your Deliverer is coming. That bright, immortal morn will soon dawn, when those loved ones that have fallen under the power of the enemy will come forth blooming with immortal vigor to die no more. O let this blessed hope buoy up your spirits, and cheer you onward, amid earth's sorrows, till you finally have a part with those that stand on mount Zion, in everlasting victory."

L. W. Shaw writes from Biddeford, Me. : "For the first time I attempt to write a few lines for the Review. I am indeed thankful to my heavenly Father for his goodness to me in enabling me to see the truth. It has been about ten months since I gave up the traditions of men to keep God's holy law; and in keeping this law I find there is great reward. I feel to thank God that we have his holy word, which teaches us to look forward to the soon coming of the Saviour as the time for the consummation of the christian's hope. O, I am glad that we have the precious word of God to point out to us the path that leads to eternal life. I want to give heed to its teachings that I may be found among God's chosen ones when Jesus shall appear. I have not the privilege that many of my brethren and sisters have in meeting together and exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. There is no one to speak to in this place of like precious faith. But I feel a hope springing up in my heart that the light will shine and some will see the error, and hear the last message, though as yet they put it far away. I feel that I will go on, keep God's commandments and have the faith of Jesus, and soon we shall meet the immortal throng and bask in an ocean of love in the kingdom of God forever and ever, and pluck fruit from life's ambrosial tree, and drink from the stream that makes glad the city of our God."

Sister C. D. Reid writes from Lodi, Wis. : "In all my searching for Bible truth, I invariably find that practice is the test of love, whether in individuals or in churches. The apostle James said, 'Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.' How do we feel, or rather how do we act, in reference to the good work in which we are engaged? Frames and feelings, when scripturally understood and guarded, are by no means to be slighted, but form a precious part of Christian experience. But words are cheap and easily uttered. Let us all as Sabbath-keepers and advent believers, stop a moment and consider what we are really doing for Christ; what we are giving for Christ; what we are doing for our neighbors, or for our friends. Have the eyes of our understanding been enlightened so that we see more and more what we must do to be a prepared people? Can we be so unmindful of our responsibility? I feel to do all I can to have the glorious truths given to others, that they also may inherit the earth made new, and receive the welcome, 'Come ye blessed of my Father.' And while many cannot give as much as others they can pray for those who are already busy in the Lord's vineyard enduring hardships and trials of faith with unsubdued patience, holding fast the faithful word as they have been taught. That Jehovah may incline many to go and do likewise is the sincere prayer of a sister in Christ."