Letter From Ireland

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 16, 1862

Letter From Ireland.

[The following letter from sister Martin of Ireland, has deeply interested many friends to whom I have read it; and knowing that it would interest very many of the readers of the Review, I take the liberty to offer it for publication.—Ellen G. White.]

From Sister Martin.

Dear Sister White: I received your letter dated 20th Sept., and was very sorry to hear you were so ill. I sincerely hope you may be spared to your family and to the cause as long as God has any work to do in this world. I do thank God that he has so signally manifested his power on your behalf, and trust it has resulted in saving a soul.

I know that you will be glad to hear that Bro. Campbell, whom I have often mentioned to you and Bro. White before, has fully come out on the doctrine, and is, with his family, keeping the Sabbath according to the commandment. He is a widower—has three children. The oldest, a boy of nine years, was convinced at once, and asked his papa what day Jesus Christ kept. On being told he kept the seventh, or the one called Saturday, he said, Well papa, that is the one we should keep. I believe the child has really experienced a change of heart. Bro. Campbell is preaching our doctrine as far as he has got the light. Some points he has not got light enough upon to explain them to others. He says he cannot see clearly that we are the last generation. He spent a day with us lately. He asked me how I could speak so confidently on the nearness of the Saviour's coming. Said he wished he could see as clearly as I do. I then mentioned the visions, and told him I believed them as fully as I did any other part of the Scriptures; told him I would not give them to unbelievers in proof of any doctrine, but would give them to believers to confirm a doctrine in connection with other scriptures. He said he did not know as he could do that, but said he believed God was as willing to communicate to his dear saints now as he ever was. I then gave him Vol. I, and he had Vol. II, of Spiritual Gifts, but said he had not read any of it. I advised him to read them, and they would explain many thing to him that he did not now fully understand.

There is one of his hearers, a cousin of mine, that I had not seen for years till I met her at Bro. Campbell's. After that I went to her own house, and left her a book on the Sabbath question, Pauline Theology, and Testimony No. 7. She has come out on the Sabbath. She is a true child of God, and obeyed the truth as soon as it was brought before her.

The Methodist people are greatly enraged at seeing some of their very choicest people being led away as they are pleased to say. Bro. C. is looked up to by the whole body as one of their very choicest preachers and most consistent characters; and Mrs. Read was always looked upon among the Methodists as a pattern woman.

I am not tired of the narrow way, but rather rejoice that I am counted worthy to suffer all the little I am called upon to suffer for his name, and that he has graciously blessed my poor feeble endeavors to spread his truth. I do bless and praise his holy name that he is giving me daily stronger desires after holiness, and my constant prayer is, Let me feel the fellowship of his sufferings, and in all things be conformed more and more to his likeness. I have many temptations to encounter, but out of them all the Lord is able and willing to deliver me. O may I with every one who now keeps, and those who will keep, his holy Sabbath in spirit and in truth, and every other truth connected with it, be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in these last days, is my prayer.

I am deeply impressed lately that we are coming very near the closing scene of this world's history. Oh how solemn the thought! and how much it behooves us to be daily striving for a holier frame of mind, and for grace to do every known duty, and an earnest constant prayer to God for more light, more wisdom, and more judgment to do just what he would have us do.

There is a good deal of excitement in this country now about our doctrine. I hope Bro. White has got my last letter, dated, I think, 7th Oct., in which I made a request for a messenger. I trust some of them will see it duty to respond to the call.

I am solemnly impressed with the thought that what is to be done for this world must be done quickly. I think he should bring a good supply of books with him. Bro. Campbell was with me to-day for a few hours. His mind has been wonderfully impressed, I think, with a great many of our opinions. For a long time he was wishing to me that he could see the chart. Now if it were possible to send one by post, I would be very grateful to you if you could get one of them sent to me, not the ones on rollers of course, also one Sabbath book in paper covers by J. N. Andrews, the Sanctuary and twenty-three hundred days, and one of the Three Angel's Messages, soon as convenient; and I will send the means to pay for them soon. The 15th number of the present volume of the Review has been destroyed by salt water, if possible would you kindly send me another, as I get them bound? Your letter gave all the Sabbath-keepers in this country great pleasure to think that there was a hope of a messenger's coming. It would be very kind of the brethren in America to do so much for us as to pay their way here and back. Bro. C. was very much rejoiced to hear that part in particular. Do you think he should baptize before being ordained by our people? He will certainly see all duty plain before he does it.

All the Sabbath-keepers join in love to you and Bro. White. Hoping to hear from you when it is convenient, your sister striving to overcome. Jane Martin.

Tullysvine, Coote Hill, Cavan Co., Ireland, November 16th, 1862.