Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 29, 1864

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. C. Brooks, having spent most of his days in slavery, but now recovered his freedom, writes from Spencer, Ohio: When I came to the North, my first thought was to find the people of God, and with them serve him and get to Heaven. I believed that God had a true church, but now came the difficulty. As I could not read God's word, how to find it I could not tell; but the thought came into my mind that I had better go to school and learn to read. This I did; and oh, how glad I felt when for the first time in my life, I could read for myself, though a man nearly thirty years old. All went well with me for the time being, and I went on, as I supposed right. If you have been misled as I have been, then you know how to pity me. I had no thought but that the first-day Sabbath was of divine appointment. So last winter, a friend, as I was reading, asked me if ever I saw the first-day Sabbath in the word of God. Not thinking, I said, Yes. Where? said he. I told him I could not find it then. He gave me one month, then three, and then four. I have read the Bible through, and no first-day Sabbath can I find. Cannot some one come out here and preach the word? Wherever the Review has been read, the call is, Come.

Sister S. J. Hunt writes: My faith is growing stronger as we are nearing the haven of eternal rest. The vintage of earth is fast ripening, and the final harvest is near. Only a few more meetings and partings, a few more conflicts and victories to be won over long cherished sins, and trials that tend to cut loose from earth and prepare a people for the coming of Jesus. Yes, the coming of Jesus! What a joyful thought! Brethren will you be ready? Sisters will you be ready? Shall I be ready? may God grant overcoming grace that we may.

Sister E. Davis writes from Coloma, Iowa: I have but recently embraced present truth. Since I embraced religion I have been a member of the United Brethren church. I attended the lectures of Elder B. F. Snook, a few weeks at Sandyville. One of his discourses was based on the mark of the beast and the seal of the living God. From that time there appeared no way for me to evade the Sabbath of the Lord, without going into deep condemnation and darkness. I resolved to obey my Lord and ever keep all his commandments; and now I rejoice that God has been pleased to make me a humble receptacle of the glorious truths of the third angel's message. I am rejoicing in the Lord, and have strong faith that ere long there will be administered unto me an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus.

BRO. A. Pierce writes from Eldora, Hardin Co., Iowa: I am still trying to live out the last message of mercy to a fallen world, by keeping all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. But how hard I find it sometimes to get along here alone with no one to associate or counsel with. I often compare myself to a person burning green timber with no kindling to keep the fire alive. It requires a great deal of exertion to keep the fire going. And yet under all these discouraging circumstances I still believe in all the great Bible doctrines as held and taught by the Seventh-day Advent people. I have been hoping and wishing and praying now for over nine years that some of the preaching Brn. would see it their duty to come this way. There is probably here as good a field to break into as other new places where there has been no preaching; and if some one would come, I can bespeak the court house, and I think a good congregation to speak to. I feel to rejoice at the prosperity of the cause in other places, and believe that God is in the work and has set his hand for the last time to gather the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and that he will gather them from the low valleys and the lofty mountains and they will soon come to their own border.

Sister L. A. Burroughs writes from West Charleston, Vt.: For about ten years I have been a firm believer that the seventh day is the true Sabbath of the Lord, and have been trying to keep it, and all the commandments of God; but there were some things connected with the third angel's message that I did not clearly see till two years ago last June at a Conference meeting in Irasburg, when Brn. Bourdeau and Hutchins presented the truth in so clear a light that I fully embraced it. And I feel to praise the Lord that he gave me an ear to hear, and a heart to believe, and established me in the truth. Although I meet with some trials, temptations, and afflictions, I still feel to press my way onward. Truth is very dear to me. My love for it grows stronger and stronger every day. I know trials are necessary to purify us; and I had rather suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

"Trials make the promise sweet; Trials give new life to prayer, Bring me to my Saviour's feet, Lay me low and keep me there."