Confession and Repentance
By P. M. DAVIS
BRO. WHITE; For some time past I have felt like saying a few words through the Review in the way of confessing wrongs. Myself and companion embraced present truth under the preaching of Bro. Sanborn in Avon, Wisconsin. Soon after embracing the truth we moved to Benton County, Iowa. There we got into a very wicked community, lost the most of our spiritual enjoyment, and concluding we could not live out the truth there alone, we sold and moved to Lisbon, Linn Co., in order to have the benefit of the church. And a great benefit have they been to us. Here we thought we enjoyed ourselves well for about a year, but never having felt the weight of those great truths, or the great responsibility resting upon us as advocates of that truth, we became careless, thinking that we were “rich and increased in goods and had need of nothing.” Whereas we were “poor and miserable and blind and naked.” We were finally through the providence of God overtaken in our wrong course, and by our good brethren were set aside for the time being until confidence could be restored in us. We now wish to say to all who know us and are standing with this people that we would here confess that we have committed a great wrong in the sight of heaven, brought a great reproach upon the cause of truth by lowering it in the eyes of the world; and much grieved our good brethren and sisters in the church, for which we do heartily repent, asking forgiveness of all the dear brethren and sisters wherever our influence has extended. But especially do we here wish publicly to say that we are satisfied that our brethren have dealt right by us, and that we are heartily sorry that we have caused them the trouble we have. We hope and pray that they and the God of the cause they advocate may forgive us all our past wrongs. We still attend and love their meetings and our prayer is that we may thoroughly repent of our sins, may yet become fit for the society of those we love, and a blessing to the cause we have so much injured. We feel thankful that God through the instrumentality of his people has shown us our true condition. All our sins and troubles that are now upon us have originated from too much associating ourselves with the world. And we would say to those [if any there are] who are doing the same, in the words of the angel to sister White, “Cut loose, cut loose,” and “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Although very much cast down at present, yet we do not mean to give up the truth. Satan has tried in every way to discourage us. But our Father says “If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him, in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.” Also “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” Oh, may we yet hope for the mercies of God, and for the saving truths of the third angel’s message! We still love the truth and all its advocates. And we are pained to think that we have been so far led away by worldly influence. And from this time on we feel determined to possess as well as profess the truth. May God help us to repent of all our wrongs, and yet live to be a blessing to the cause and people we have so much injured, and finally through his mercies have a right to the tree of life in the earth made new is our prayer. Brethren pray for us.
P. M. DAVIS.
Richmond, Iowa.