p. 182 | LETTERS | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 6, 1862

LETTERS.

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

From Bro. Rhodes.

DEAR BRO. WHITE: I find it in my heart to hold upon the altar my former confessions of wrongs, that I have made through the Review to the public, and also those made to individuals verbally and by letter. I think I stand ready to do all I can or know how to do, to correct every wrong word, feeling, act, or development of spirit of mine in the past. I shall need, and will try to appreciate, the help, the prayers, and the counsel of kind friends in this critical and most important work. As my confession to yourself and sister W., at our last interview was not full (yet it left a good influence upon my mind), I wish to add, and say that my unwillingness to do duty, and heed and act upon kind reproofs, mercifully given, left me in a prepared state to sip at the bitter and poisonous waters which run through our ranks, during the short life and sudden and shameful death of the so-called Messenger of Truth. I was willing that dear Bro. White should suffer a little. May God have mercy upon me, and forgive such a heinous sin. A murmuring and faultfinding feeling or spirit troubled me occasionally afterward. There was no good reason why I should have thus felt. The trouble was in my own heart—an unsanctified nature.

Bro. and Sr. White have done all that I could reasonably ask any Christian to do to help me, from the beginning of our acquaintance. I have needed all the reproofs that have been given me, to bring me to myself and open my eyes to see that I am "poor, and miserable, and wretched, and blind, and naked." I have played the prodigal so far as the wandering away from his father's house and coming to himself.

I mourn over the past, and know not how to forgive myself, or how others can forgive such great wrongs. A spirit of rebellion has at times rested upon me. I have complained (especially in my own heart) of the manner in which sister White has delivered some of the Lord's messages to me. This too was sinful and cruel, to add sorrow to the heart already trembling and fainting under the burden of the word of the Lord. I pause and weep at the thought of the injustice I have done her. I cannot repair the breach. I can feel and say that I am heartily sorry for my sin in these things, and regret that I have waited so long before confessing as I should.

Dear Bro. and Sr. White, since I last saw you, my wrong feelings and spirit alluded to in the above have been changing into a calm, submissive, and grateful feeling and spirit toward reproof, toward God, toward you, and toward all the saints.

Had I lived in the light of the Lord, I might have saved you many trials, and myself, the church, and the cause, many wounds. I wish the prayers of all who can pity, and sympathise with and are willing to help a deeply self-wounded pilgrim.

Yours in the furnace.

S. W. RHODES.

West Winfield, N. Y., April 1, 1862.

From Sister Shaw.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I feel myself unworthy and the least of all; but from week to week those words in the Review greet my eyes, "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to an other," and it increases in my heart a desire to cast in my mite. Through the same sovereign grace of God, I trust that I am united by a living faith to the same living Lord as yourselves, believing the same truth, trusting the same most precious blood, resting on the same precious promises, rejoicing in the same glorious prospect of living and reigning with Christ and all the redeemed, and sharing those lasting pleasures which none but Zion's children, heirs of the spiritual kingdom, humble, contrite and broken hearted shall know.

With many others, I can say that the paper affords me much comfort and pleasure, and that in an increased degree my heart is made glad from week to week, while reading the many sweet testimonies from those that love God and keep his commandments.

It is some over a year since I commenced trying to walk this narrow way and keep the faith of Jesus. I feel that I have been blessed in so doing; have felt that unshaken confidence, that divine favor of God, that I never felt before in my Christian experience. Though oftentimes I do not reflect the image of Jesus as it is my heart's desire to do, still I am striving to overcome the world, the lust of the flesh, and everything that is not pleasing in the sight of God.

I can truly say the way grows brighter and brighter, and truth looks more glorious day by day. I am perfectly established in that faith which I have found by experience to be truth, that by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast, and that we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time; that he is an ever present help to them that put their trust in him. I feel him to be a very precious Saviour, a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, a perfect and all-sufficient Saviour, able to save even to the uttermost. He is indeed worthy of all praise, honor and glory. Through all his word I find that sacred harmony that I find in nothing else. His law is my delight; his word is my meditation day and night.

I want to be on the side of truth, to take the word for my guide; to be ready and waiting when Jesus comes, and be found with the remnant few that will become joint heirs with Jesus to that inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved for all those that love and serve the Lord.

Yours striving to overcome.

LYDIA JANE SHAW.

Wethersfield, Wy. Co., N. Y.