Extracts from Letters

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 16, 1861

Extracts from Letters.

Sister Mary Palmer writes from Anamosa, Iowa: "I write a few lines for the first time for the Review. It has been but a few months since I commenced trying to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I feel to thank the Lord that I have had the privilege of hearing his precious truth, and that I have had a heart to obey it. I hope by the grace of God to overcome all evil ways. I want to be among that happy number that will be ready and waiting for the coming of Christ, and meet him with joy. What a happy meeting that will be if we are only prepared. When he appears we shall appear with him in glory, and enter through the gates into the holy city. There will be joy and gladness, and sorrow shall flee away. Brethren and sisters, my prayer is that we may all be faithful unto the end, for we find no promise except to those that hold out.

"The Bible is a new book to me. I once read the Bible because I thought that it must be read, not because I loved to read it. But now I read it because I love it. I know not what I should do if I were to be deprived of my Bible. It is my almost constant companion. I love to read the Advent books and the Review. It does me good to read the letters from the brethren and sisters that are scattered through our land. There are but few Sabbath-keepers in this place; but we do not feel discouraged. The Lord has promised where two or three are met in his name, there to be with them.

"O how thankful I am that I have seen the truth, while many are left in darkness. I often wonder why I was led to believe in the truth, and strove to obey it when I had so much opposition to encounter; but I know that it is by the grace of God that I have been enabled to come out from the world and embrace unpopular truth. I feel that I have a great work to do before I shall be able to stand at the coming of Christ. I believe that he is soon coming, and I want to be ready to meet him. I feel my unworthiness and sinfulness in the sight of God. If I am ever saved, I shall be a sinner saved by grace."

Sister B. M. Osgood writes from Lairdsville, N. Y.: "The Review comes to us weekly, laden with cheering intelligence from God's remnant people, some of whom like myself, are so far separated from others of like precious faith as to be deprived of meeting with any on God's holy day, to worship the Lord of the Sabbath. To such, probably the weekly visits of the Review are doubly welcome. I sometimes look forward with joyful anticipations to the time when all God's dear children will be gathered together at home, in that many mansioned house, of which Jesus told his disciples, just before he left them to go to his Father. Glorious home! Thrice happy place! No more sin or sorrow, or suffering; but rest, eternal rest. May I so live as to find an abundant entrance there, is the prayer of your sister seeking for immortality at the appearing of Jesus."

Bro. L. Bartholomew writes from Medford, Minn.: "I feel like adding my testimony on the side of truth. The word says that they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another, and a book of remembrance was kept. Yes, dear brethren and sisters, there is an account kept of all our works whether good or bad. If we neglect our duty in improving our talents, shall we not hear the awful sentence, Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Can it be possible that we could appear before the Lord and say, Lord, my talent was so small that I could not do much, and I was ashamed to expose myself, and thought it was others' duty to talk and write, and I would try to be a christian and say nothing. Will not the declaration apply to such, Whosoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him will I be ashamed before my Father and all the holy angels.

"Dear brethren and sisters, let us come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and put our whole hearts into the work, and act as though we felt what we believed. The time that is spent in fixing useless articles, and meditating on making money, &c., let it rather be spent in meditating on what we can do for the glory of God and the promotion of his cause."

Sister H. Barden writes from Leslie, Mich.: "I love the truth of the third angel's message, and have a heart to do what I can for the cause of truth. I wish to be found ready and waiting, my lamp trimmed and burning. I wish to be one among those who keep all the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus. I feel encouraged to go on, and wait a little longer, when our Lord will come and take his waiting people home. I am not without trials and crosses, but am striving to overcome all the evils of my nature, that I may be able to stand at last with God's people on Mt. Zion."