Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 27, 1862

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. Jas. A. Strong writes from Brady, Mich. : "I have one evidence of having passed from death unto life, because I love the brethren. When I think of the past my heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the blessings that God has bestowed upon me, in permitting me to hear Bro. Hull's lectures. Although my mind was not fully settled in respect to the course I should pursue when Bro. H. left, since that time I have resolved to do the will of God, and keep his commandments, and the faith of Jesus. I have been of the opinion for a number of years that the seventh day was the Bible Sabbath; but I have heard such doctrines advocated from the pulpit, said to be Bible doctrines, that I had lost all confidence in God's word, and at the time Bro. Hull came here was almost an unbeliever that any of the Bible was from God. But when I heard the truth, I became convinced, and am now trying to lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset me, and run the race with patience looking to Jesus, the author of my faith. It is with joy that I peruse the Review when it comes. It seems as though I could realize more fully than ever the language of our Saviour, where he says, Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. There has been an earnest desire here among the brethren and sisters for Bro. Hull to come again to this place. We assemble each Sabbath for prayer-meeting, and our meetings are blessed seasons to us, for the Lord, I trust, meets with us. Still we feel a desire for some one to lead us, and proclaim the truth to us in its purity. O that the Lord would send more laborers into his vineyard! is my prayer. The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. It seems to me as though people could not reject the truth, when it is so plain. When I think of these things, I feel like weeping day and night for the children of men, and I do feel willing to take my cross and try to set such an example before the world that others seeing my good works may be led to glorify my Father which is in heaven. I thank God for the faith he has given me, and for the love shed abroad in my heart; but I still pray for more faith, and that every day I may live nearer to God, and become more like him, and be better prepared to meet him. I believe there never was a time when it was so necessary for the children of God to live holy lives as at the present; and by the grace of God I am resolved to try to live more and more devoted to him and his cause."

Sister A. L. Allen writes from New London, Iowa: "I was in West Monroe, N. Y., where I then lived, that I heard Brn. Barr and Wheeler proclaim the third angel's message. It was then I saw that I was keeping the wrong day for the Sabbath. The Bible became at once a new book. I could read it with delight. I can truly say I love the Lord. I love his blessed cause. I love the straight testimony. I want to be found without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. I am striving to overcome all. I believe the time will soon come that there will be great tribulation such as never was. My prayer is that I may be fully prepared for whatever event may come. I want the whole armor of God, that I may fight against the wiles of the Devil. Brethren and sisters, let us take a bold stand, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. He has promised never to leave those who trust in him. Blessed promise."

Sister Mary Shell writes from Pottersburgh, St. Clair Co., Mich.: "I believe the doctrine the Review teaches is according to the Bible. I feel determined, God's grace assisting me, to make one for the kingdom. As we are here alone we look forward with joyful anticipation to that day when all the saints will be called home to an inheritance incorruptible, and that fadeth not away. My prayer is that the Lord will hear the prayers of his feeble children in this part of his vineyard, and send some of his messengers here. O that the Macedonian cry may reach the ears of some one, to come over and help us."

Sister M. A. Stroud writes from Oneco, Wis.: "I never heard an advent sermon. My ears have been closed to all external sounds for nearly 14 years. But God has had me on step by step with his holy word, and I was lately baptized by Bro. Ingraham. O the unspeakable love that took possession of my heart when I reflected that I was following in the footsteps of Jesus. O! that all the youth and aged would learn wisdom ere—the harvest is past or summer ended. 'While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.' God grant that these blessed words may prove as healing to other desponding hearts as they did to my own."

May the labors of Bro. Ingraham be instrumental in reclaiming many a poor sinner from the evil of his ways to seek that land— > Where no tear shall ever fall, > Nor heart be sad; > Where the glory is for all, > And all are glad."

Sister N. D. Richmond writes from Vernon, Vt.: "About fifteen years since, I trust God in his great mercy forgave me my sins, and eleven years since, I united with the Calvinist Baptist church, and remained a member of that body until February last. During that time I felt that God was blessing me while I was seeking to do his will. Last January my mind became in a measure interested on the subject of the Sabbath. When I learned that my companion was anxious for the salvation of his soul, I plead with God earnestly that he would bring him into the light of his glorious gospel, and I feel to-day that I have great reason for gratitude to him for listening to my prayer. We prayed after his conversion that the Holy Spirit might lead and direct him in the path of duty; and I thought at the time that I had no will of my own; but when I knew his mind was turned toward the Sabbath, it seemed more than I could hear. I found then that my heart was not right in the sight of God. I brought up every argument that I could think of (and I will here acknowledge the number was very small) in favor of first-day observance, but all to no effect. I would take my Bible away by myself, and read and pray over the subject. The more I read, the more I became convinced that the seventh day was still the Sabbath of the Lord; but Oh, the cross! the cross! It seemed as though I could not bear it. I thought of the church with all its privileges, the Sunday School, the prayer-meetings, the choir (of which I had for several years been a member), and thought, Can I give these all up, and bear the reproach that I know will be heaped upon me? For one week I struggled hard with these feelings. I was convinced from the word of God that he required my whole heart, and I knew while I was standing out against his truth that I was withholding part from him, and was bringing darkness upon my soul. I never suffered such distress of mind before as I did during that long week. It reached almost to despair. But O, the unsearchable depths of a Saviour's love! He brought me at last to bow in humble submission to his will. Never shall I forget my feelings on that Sabbath morning when my companion expressed to me with the greatest kindness the wish that I would keep the holy Sabbath with him. Can it be, thought I, that my companion is keeping God's holy day, while I am desecrating it? This was too much for me to endure. My proud, rebellious heart, was subdued, and I bowed in humble penitence and sought forgiveness of my heavenly Father; and when I arose from my knees, I enjoyed that happiness and peace of mind which it is impossible for me to express; and O, the light that broke in upon my soul. It was the happiest day of my life. I could see clearly his guiding hand in the recent events of my life, and how vain and false did the world seem to me then. I felt that I wanted to consecrate myself now to the service of One who had been so merciful to me as to reveal to me the light of his truth."

O, for this love let rocks and hills Their lasting silence break, And all harmonious human tongues The Saviour's praises speak.

"And now, my dear brethren and sisters, I feel that it would be a privilege for me to walk with you hand in hand to that heavenly home, where, if faithful to the end, we shall soon all meet. It is a glorious thought to me that 'God knoweth them that are his,' and that all the frowns and scoffs that a wicked world may heap upon us, if we but patiently endure as good soldiers, will but add to our happiness in that blest place our Saviour has gone to prepare for us."

Bro. O. S. Eddy writes from Wethersfield, N. Y.: "It has been a little more than a year since I first heard of present truth. I have ever since been trying to keep all the Commandments of God. I am determined to be an overcomer by the assisting grace of God to help me. I want to have a name with the Seventh-day Adventists, for I believe them to be the Lord's true people. I believe the coming of the Lord is near at hand, and that there is no time to be lost if we would be ready to meet him in peace. I desire to be one of that number in whose mouth no guile will be found, and who will sing the song on mount Zion."