Letters by H. C. Miller

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Aug 2, 1864

Letters.

By H. C. Miller

1👉 "Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."

This department of the paper is designed for the brethren and sisters to freely and fully communicate with each other respecting their hopes and determinations, conflicts and victories, attainments and desires, in the heavenly journey. Seek first a living experience and then record it, carefully and prayerfully, for the comfort and encouragement of the other members of the household of faith.

From Bro. Miller.

Ed. Review: One year and a half ago I determined to devote myself to the service of the Lord. I then had an earnest desire to know the truth; to learn the duties of a Christian; to know what I must do to be saved. Examination of the different views and doctrines of the different churches, convinced me that out of their conflicting testimony no light shone, and I concluded I would turn "to the law and to the testimony."

I began earnestly to study the Scriptures; but trusting in my own understanding, I failed to gain the light I sought. God was teaching me to ask for those things I needed. It was all dark to me. Then came the thought, that perhaps I was not searching with the right spirit: and I prayed that a right spirit might be renewed within me. In looking over the Sacred Book, one day, my eye rested upon the words in James i, 5, 6. Then my constant prayer was, "O Lord, give thy servant an understanding heart."

Soon light began to break in upon the darkness, and one by one, the glorious, sanctifying truths of the word of God were unfolded to me, more and more as I was able to receive it. How different from what I had been taught to believe. Oh they were so harmonious, so good, I wanted to tell to all. But I soon found that as it has always been, so now, the truth is not acceptable to the many. Ridicule, sneers, and derision met me on almost every hand. Weeping, I would retire to my closet and lay the matter before the Lord in prayer. Soon would come peace from above, with the assurance that "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and shall persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad." Then I would be strong. I only regret that I did not stand up more firmly for the truth than I did. What caused me much sorrow was seeing many of my companions so deceived in regard to their duties as Christians; thinking they could be Christians and yet not be separate from the world; but following the fashions in dress, in pleasure; intimately associating with open rebels against God, and enjoying such rebellion; following them in much of their wrong, and hence soon being overcome by Satan's wiles, and returning again to those things whereof they once professed to be ashamed.

But the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord, was the greatest trial to me. For a time I put off examination as of no importance, and excusing myself in all the usual ways, all being as rapidly shown to me to be foolish. Soon I was in the dark. I felt as though all light had left me. I was more than half convinced that I was wrong. My last objection was "so many cannot be wrong." Said the monitor within, "You found them wrong in all else." At last I said I will examine, Lord guide me. I did examine, saw I was wrong, accepted the truth, and was happy.

To be sure some of my friends have grown cold, others call me insane, odd, foolish; but with the apostle, I am a fool for Christ's sake. I am determined by the help of God, to be his willing child. I want the help of the prayers of his children. Come weal or woe, come desertions by friends, come persecutions or affliction, the Saviour never, never will leave me, and therein do I rejoice.

I am a constant reader of the Review, and welcome with joy its weekly visits, bringing such cheering words from the brethren, who though separated from each other are yet united in the faith.

I have been interested in the review of Preble. Why opposers of the seventh-day Sabbath cannot see that keeping the first day of the week does not obey the letter and spirit of the law, any more than observing Christmas or New Year's day commemorates the anniversary of our National Independence, seems strange to me. Yet they would deem absurd all attempts to prove the latter proposition.

H. C. MILLER.

Chicago, Ills.