p. 174 | MRS. A. F. STANSELL by Mrs. A. F. Stansell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 26, 1864

MRS. A. F. STANSELL

By Mrs. A. F. Stansell

From Sister Stansell.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I feel rather reluctant especially after the notes to "Correspondents," in Review April 12 in writing out my thoughts and experience for fear that it may not be sufficiently interesting. And yet, I need not fear; for according to rules, all communications are to be sifted, and the rejected laid upon the shelf where they will trouble no one—and I am willing to abide the result.

I want to tell you how I love to read the Review. It has become very dear to me; and I now think with regret upon the many papers I destroyed without reading, at the time my father sent me a year's subscription. But I now welcome it with gladness. The last No. contained much that interested and strengthened me.

"Father, take my hand." Is it not encouraging to those who are striving for the crown that we are permitted to ask this? Yes, he is ever ready to help those who will permit him, and I, who am so unworthy of his notice pray that I may be led by him who has promised to be to us "as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."

It is about two months since I first commenced to keep the Lord's Sabbath, and I love it, and have joy in believing that "the middle wall of partition is broken down," and the Sabbath is now truly a delight to me. The fourth commandment seems of much more importance to me than it did formerly. Heretofore I have only looked upon the Sabbath as a day of rest and not binding on us only to refrain from general labor. I thought it nothing wrong to find our own pleasure in taking a long walk after meeting was over if the weather was propitious, or reading some book foreign to the subject of religion if I chose, after reading the Bible awhile.

I found no cross in keeping their kind of Sabbaths—they seemed to agree so well with the selfish craving of my nature, they were as easy to live as Spiritualism.

Others around me who profess to be followers of Christ are keeping just such Sabbaths—and it is a common way of speaking, with Sunday keepers, that it matters not which day only if a certain day is established to keep for rest. Now we should respect God's commands, and keep the very day he established in the beginning, and in the manner he directed, or we fail to appreciate his holy word, or willfully scorn his law.