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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 17, 1862

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 20, No. 3.

Read the full edition

LETTERS.

By Editor

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

From Bro. Boaz.

Bro. WHITE: Something over four years ago I became deeply interested in the teachings of the Bible by hearing our beloved Bro. Hull proclaim the glorious truths of the third angel, and after a thorough investigation of the Bible on the subjects of the mortality of man, and the Sabbath, I saw clearly that the church had been in the wilderness, and that the time had come for her to look forth as the morning, clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners. And, having had from my youth an anxious desire to live for, and glorify, God, the truth shone so clear that it revealed to me my sinfulness, driving away the fog of superstition thoroughly, and I resolved that I would let God be true and every man a liar.
When Paul thought himself very righteous the law taught him that he was a sinner. The same law taught me a like lesson. It said, “Remember the Sabbath-day,” &c. I had lived in the violation of that law all my life. I then resolved to trust in the Lord, and never again violate his holy law.
With much trembling I informed my companion of my intention, and to my great joy and surprise she was fully with me. And although we had been Baptists for twenty years, we commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and what was worse, in the estimation of the popular churches, began to work on Sunday, and denied the immortality of the soul; which they tell us is the fundamental part of the Christian religion. But I wish to be delivered from all religion that is founded in error. From that time (four years ago) to the present we have been able to realize the truth of the language of Paul in 2 Tim. iii, 12.
Two years afterward, Bro. Hull paid us another visit, and in the meantime I had given the subject of baptism a thorough investigation, and desired it at the hands of Bro. Hull, and was followed by my companion and four of our daughters; and since that time we think we have some evidence that we love the law of God, that giveth great peace. Ps. cxix, 165.
At that time Bro. Hull insisted that I ought to take the Review and Instructor, that I might know of all movements and advances of the remnant people of God, which I greatly desired to know. But being very poor, with a mortgage covering my little home, and in very feeble health, I feared to do so. He replied that I could take them, and if I could not raise the money to send from time to time, just report myself often and let the department know that we were interested in reading, &c., and all would be right; but I hated to write without having money to send, and still hoped for better times, and have only written once, accompanied with one dollar, which was receipted in due time. Money matters are decidedly worse with me now. I do not now see any possible chance to save my home, although I have paid on it more than double the amount that is now back, besides the loss of a beautiful improvement.
About two weeks ago we received the Instructor for May, accompanied with the bill showing our indebtedness. If you could have seen the sad countenances, and the flowing tears that were shed by the family at the thought of being deprived of the privilege of reading those precious sheets (Review and Instructor) you could have drawn some idea of how highly they are prized by the family. The inquiry was, “Father, can't we pay for it?” “I love to read it so well!” The mother replied, “I have got a little more than will pay my tent pledge, and will do without shoes.” “Father, let us take the paper if we do lose our place, and then we will move to where there are more of our brethren, and we girls can get work by the week among the brethren, and we can yet make a living.” Such was a part of the conversation and conclusion. Therefore you will receive a little money with this, and directions how to appropriate it.
We are situated some ten miles from where our church meetings are held, and have no horse, and do not have the privilege of seeing or meeting with the brethren. Therefore the papers are about all the preaching we hear; for we choose not to go to hear the popular preaching of the day.
Your unworthy brother hoping for immortality. E. C. Boaz. Ottawa, Clark Co., Iowa.
NOTE. We mark Bro. B.'s Review at half price. If some reader, touched with the above simple narrative, wishes to pay the other half, and for the Instructor, he or she can have the pleasure. Otherwise we send the papers free for one year.—Ed.