Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 24, 1863

Extracts from Letters.

Sister S. J. Bysong writes from West Union, Iowa: For eight weeks I have been striving to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and am not weary in well-doing, but delight in the law of God. My heart glows with gratitude to him who first arrested my attention, opened my blinded eyes, and turned my feet into the way of truth. I praise God that I ever heard the last call of mercy. I was awakened to the truth during the labors of Bro. Cornell in this place; and I feel to give glory and honor unto God, who has delivered me from error, and made me rejoice in the truth. He is still leading me. I can truly say that I love both parts of the message, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It severs the cord of friendship from this popular world, but what are the fashions, the pride of this life, when compared with the glory which awaits the faithful and obedient! O I want to share in that incorruptible inheritance, though it be by the loss of all earthly friends. We have one Friend in whom there is no variableness nor a shadow of turning. There is also a precious promise given us that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him. O I rejoice in these glorious truths. Like the pure gold, they shine brighter and brighter. Our Saviour is soon coming. How cheering the thought! but I sometimes fear that I shall not be ready. I find a warfare daily, having many foes within. The way seems more narrow every day, but my hope and trust are in Jesus, who is worthy. I feel like striving more earnestly to gain a home in the earth made new, and with all the redeemed partake of the fruit of the tree of life.

Bro. W. Lea writes from Newbern, Iowa: We love the Review for its good and right teaching, and are often cheered by the encouraging letters from the brethren and sisters, especially the lonely ones, as they encourage us in our lonely state.

We desire your prayers that we may live faithful and walk humbly, and that we may put on the whole armor of God, and be able to stand in that great day, which we believe is fast approaching.

First Great Cause.

The name of Deity is inscribed on all his works. The world is one vast mirror reflecting his glorious image. The magnitude of heavenly bodies; the immensity of space through which they are scattered; the vast numbers that exist, if each star is a central orb to unseen worlds revolving around it; the harmony of their movements; the adaptation of their form and motion to the convenience of the whole, and the power that binds them to their respective orbits, not only declare in unmistakable language the existence of a first great cause, but invest that cause with infinite perfection.