Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 17, 1863

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. A. B. Williams writes from Clinton, Wis.: Since a year ago last November, my wife and myself have been trying to keep all God's commandments. I first heard the truth preached by Brn. Loughborough and Sanborn while with the tent here, in June, 1861. I was convinced that they had the truth, but it was too unpopular. I tried to excuse myself in various ways, but I saw that I was climbing up another way. I continued to investigate, and found I must deny the Bible or the traditions of men. I chose the latter.

There is but one other Sabbath-keeper in this place. There are others that seem to be convinced, and are favorable to the cause, and are much interested, but seem to halt.

We were members of the M. E. church. We are now branded as infidels and heretics; but we expect to suffer persecution if we obey God rather than man, knowing that the friendship of the world is at enmity with God, as the carnal mind is enmity against God, and is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. We feel lonely, but we feel assured that we have the prayers of God's people. May the Lord help us to follow on to know him whom to know aright is life everlasting.

The Review is nearly all the preaching we have, and we prize it highly. The peace-and-safety cry is in our midst. May the Lord help us to be on our guard, that when the Bridegroom cometh we may be found with our lamps trimmed and burning.

J. Eggleston writes from Lancaster, N. Y.: I have just been perusing the Review, No. 7, and find a piece entitled, "Do we discard the Bible by endorsing the Visions?" which so fully meets my views that I cannot refrain from saying a few words, of however little value they may be. I feel to bless God for the gifts. When did we ever need a pilot if not now? The whole world ridicules the idea of visions. The Bible is enough for all mankind, say they. But where, I ask, have the whole, or nearly the whole, of the world gone already? They are swallowed up in the whirlpool of pride and excitement. They forget to read and live by the Bible, which they pronounce so abundantly sufficient for them; and because we have something to awaken us to a sense of our impending danger, something to encourage us and lead us to better deeds, to constantly search the Scriptures, also to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and finally to keep all God's commandments, the dragon is wroth, and is using every device to bring against us a band of blind followers. Let us, one and all, cling closer and still closer to these precious Testimonies. I for one shall not fear to follow them while they continue to point to a path so narrow, strait, and rugged.

Sister S. Washburn writes from Waterloo, Iowa: I wish to say a few words concerning our little society in this place. It is about a year and a half since we began to investigate the Seventh-day Adventist doctrine and to keep all the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, during which time we have held meetings every or nearly every Sabbath, but never came out and separated ourselves from the world by organization until a week ago when we were favored with a visit from Bro. Cornell who held meetings with us three days and baptized six, myself being one of the happy number. We had truly a refreshing season, and I can say, and I believe I express the sentiments of the church, that I feel to praise the Lord that I ever had an opportunity of hearing the "third angel's message" proclaimed, and that he inclined my heart to believe and embrace it. It is my determination by the assistance of divine grace to spend the remnant of my days keeping the "commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." I feel that I have but little strength of my own, but that Christ is sufficient for all who are willing to trust him, and come to him in an acceptable manner; and in him is my strength.

I never felt so much like trusting all that I have and am with him, or such a submission to his will as during the past week. A sweet and holy calm has pervaded my mind. O that he may guide my steps aright; that I may "take the whole armor of God, above all the shield of faith, wherewith I may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, be able to do all his righteous will and be prepared with my little family to meet the Bridegroom when he shall return from the wedding.

I am living alone with my children four in number. My husband is in the army where he has been a year and a half. When he went I felt that it was his duty as well as that of every other loyal man to fly to the relief of his distracted country; but I feel far different now, and my prayer is that the Lord will, if consistent with his will, open a way for him to return home, that with us he may be prepared to meet his Lord in peace, and to enter through the gates into the city.