p. 15 | Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 9, 1863

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. J. Hebner writes from Pottersburgh, St. Clair Co., Mich.: My desire is as strong as ever to be an overcomer at the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am fully persuaded that his coming is near, even at the door, and I truly desire that we who profess to believe in the last message of mercy now going to the world, may be faithful and endure to the end. I am fully persuaded that God is doing up his last work spoken of by the prophets and apostles and his Son, that should come to pass in the last days. My heart beats in unison with all the saints. O could I but hear one of God's messengers preach the truth it would be a source of joy to me. I would that the Lord would send some of his messengers this way. I think there could be a little church raised up here. May God direct some of his saints this way is my sincere prayer. There seems to be a good many in this place who are anxious to hear the truth. Could any of the messengers come this way we would do all we could for them.

Sister E. A. Brown writes from Cherry Grove, Minn.: As the Review makes its cheering visits to me from week to week, my heart is made to rejoice in reading the testimonies of the dear brethren and sisters therein. It is now two years and four months since I commenced keeping the Sabbath of the Lord, and I feel to praise his great and holy name that he opened my eyes to behold wondrous things out of his law. I feel to-day to give God all the praise, and will try to be more faithful in the future for great and marvelous has been his dealings toward me. In the hour of affliction he has been my strength. When there has been no arm to save, or eye to pity he has interfered in our behalf, and has heard our petitions.

Eternal life is of more value than every thing else. There is nothing to compare with it. There is nothing that can compare with the wondrous works of God. "Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God, Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall fear thee O Lord and glorify thy name for thou only art holy." Rev. xv. 3, 4.

I feel a hungering and thirsting after righteousness and a great desire to be prepared to stand in the try-time that awaits God's children. I think the time is coming and now is when we need on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to resist all of the fiery darts that the enemy may hurl at us.

The Review and Instructor are pretty much all the preaching we have.

Sister E. Gardner writes from Osceola, Clark Co., Iowa: It has now been about three years since I first had the privilege of hearing the third angel's message. Since that time I have been striving to keep all the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And though I often feel as though I was alone, yet when by faith I lean upon the strong arm of Him who is mighty to save, my prospect for heaven is brightened, and I can see with an eye of faith, the new Jerusalem prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. It has been a long time since I have heard a sermon by one of our people; yet I have not grown faint. My faith is just as strong as ever, and still grows brighter as I near the time when I expect to hail my Deliverer as he comes to free his people from the sorrows of this world. I have been a careful Bible-reader, ever since I was old enough to read; yet never knew till lately that I was continually violating God's law. And now when I read, and behold the signs fulfilling before our eyes, and the sin that boldly walks abroad in almost every conceivable shape, I think it is time that the people of God should work diligently. I hail with delight the weekly visits of the Review, and love to read the letters from the brethren.

Bro. D. Curtis writes from Rubicon Wis.: I love the truths advocated in the Review. It has been about six years since I was convinced that the seventh day was the Sabbath, and of other truths connected therewith. I am now eighty years of age. I have been so deaf for many years that I have been unable to hear any preaching, so the Review is all the preaching that I have and it is truly a welcome messenger.

I hope the time will soon come when God's people will be free from the power of the enemy; when we shall all be loosed from our infirmities that we may with one mouth glorify God. I ask the prayers of God's children that I may prove faithful unto the end and at last receive a crown of life at his right hand.

Bro. L. H. Roberts writes from Deerfield, Mich. About five years ago I listened to a few sermons from Bro. Loughborough at Parkville in St. Joseph county in this State. Since then I have not heard but one or two discourses of any kind, but my conscience smote me and told me to search the Scriptures and see if these things were so.

I have searched them, and it will probably be asked what the result is. It is this: that I am no longer venerating the first-day of the week but keeping the Sabbath of the Lord. I have tried to count the cost. I see eternal life and happiness held out as the reward to them that obey God's mild and wise commandments, while I see on the opposite, death and misery as the reward to those that seek the decaying things of this world which at furtherest can last but a few short years. I have sought happiness in the fading things of earth but found it not. I am trying now to find it in the appointed ways of the Lord, and with God's remnant people tread the almost deserted paths of Him who was meek and lowly. I mean to live out the present truth though all men should turn against me. I believe that the wrath of God is soon to burst on the guilty sons of mortality, and sweep them away with devouring fire from off the earth.

Let me not be of that number, but rather of those who shall be able to stand.

Bro. A. E. Tallman writes from Bloomer Prairie, Wis.: I bless the name of my heavenly Father for light and understanding to walk in his ways, that when his wrath is poured out on this wicked world, I may have a shelter from the coming storm. There are some in this place who are looking for the Lord from heaven, but alas they have given up the commandments of God, and all is confusion with them. They have no influence on the wicked around them. Oh that they may see their error and turn and find pardon before it is too late. I have friends near and dear to me, and it is my prayer that they may be led to embrace the truth, and be saved. The Lord give me strength to overcome the besetments of my ways, and at last have an abundant entrance into his kingdom.