Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1863

Extracts from Letters.

BRO. J. Weeks writes from Tabor, Iowa: BRO. WHITE: Since the fall of 1857, myself and family have been endeavoring in an imperfect way to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, although there has been only one family within our acquaintance that to our knowledge have kept the Sabbath of Jehovah. Is not this fact an alarming one? Only two families within a circuit of probably twenty-five miles keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. It is indeed astonishing to me, that professed Christians can excuse themselves from such an open and evident violation of God's commandments. Nowhere in God's word is there a command found to observe any except the seventh day—the Sabbath of the Lord. It is a matter of regret to us that we have not Sabbath and meeting privileges, especially on account of our children. But we are thankful for the Review richly laden with sacred truth. I have felt the necessity of late of praying more fervently and frequently, that I may find Him whom my soul loveth, and thereby dwell beneath the shadow of his wing.

SISTER H. R. Pierce writes from Liverpool, Ohio: I wish to say that I am striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I feel that God owns me for his child. The thought of the soon coming of my Saviour lifts me above the vanities of earth. Although I have come in at the eleventh hour I want to work diligently; and the language of my heart is, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do. We read in the word of God, He that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad.

I am thankful Bro. Waggoner came to our place and faithfully preached the truth. I think the word spoken is at work in the hearts of the people. There seems to be an inquiry What do the Scriptures say about these things? May the Lord lead us by his Spirit.

SISTER M. M. Castle writes from Lapeer, Mich. : I am still trying to overcome. Although weak, I know that God's grace is sufficient for those that will trust in him. I mean to try more earnestly to lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset me, and run with patience the race set before me. When I view my own heart and see what I am by nature, and what I must be in order to be received to those mansions that Jesus has gone to prepare for the faithful, I fear and tremble. Let us gird on the whole armor and fight manfully the battles of the Lord.

BRO. C. G. Campbell writes from Oronoco, Olmstead Co., Minn. : I would say that the Review, and the cause it advocates, and the truths it contains, are very dear to me. When I review my past life, and think what my condition was when the sound of present truth first came to my understanding, I am astonished to think that I did not see it before, reading my Bible every day with the same truths before me. But I thank God that it was in his providence to send Brn. Allen and Andrews to Minnesota. It was through them that I heard the truths of the third angel's message preached. Since then I have been trying by assisting grace to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; but I see, upon self-examination, that I have made some crooked paths. I feel to retrace my steps, and strive more faithfully to walk in the narrow way that leads to life everlasting. I rejoice that it is only a little longer when, if faithful, we shall receive the reward of eternal life, and a crown of never-fading glory, and be possessors of an inheritance in the new earth. Unto this end I am striving to be an overcomer.