WILLIAM JOHNSTON by William Johnston

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 7, 1865

WILLIAM JOHNSTON

By William Johnston

From Bro. Johnston.

BRO. WHITE : Excuse my neglect for not acknowledging the receipt of the Review and Herald. I feel to thank God that it has been sent to me. Oh the pleasure and comfort I enjoy, in the perusal of its articles. It rejoices my heart to learn from it, that so many of God's dear servants have turned their backs on the commandments and doctrines of men, of priests and popery, to proclaim the truth, the plain, the simple truths of the everlasting gospel.

I have for some years past endeavored to call the minds of the people among whom I preached, to the importance of keeping the Sabbath of the Lord. This I did however by private conversation, more than by public preaching; until within the past year, my conscience smote me so severely for so mincing the matter, that I had to come out boldly and proclaim from the pulpit, the unaltered, and unalterable truth, that the "seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God."

I have just returned from a protracted meeting which I held over two Sabbaths, I endeavored to show the people not only the claims of the law and gospel, but also the doom of the willful violators of it; namely, that "the soul that sinneth it shall die;" that "the workers of iniquity shall be destroyed together," at the coming of our divine Immanuel, which is near at hand.

Our congregations were small at first, but became larger and larger every evening until the meeting-house was filled to its utmost capacity. Some few found fault and grumbled at the new doctrine, as they called it; but as a general thing, I can truly say, that for the last ten years, I have not witnessed more seriousness, or candid attention to the word, than was manifested by the people during this series of meetings. Numbers who attended this meeting are convinced that they ought to keep the Lord's Sabbath; others have declared that they will endeavor to keep the commandments, lest they die the death that never LIVES. The few commandment keepers who attended this meeting were revived, refreshed, and encouraged to let their light shine, in this dark corner of the Lord's vineyard.

Believers in the present truth, pray for us! And preachers, visit Perry Co., Pa., when possible; you will be received by many families with open arms, who a few years ago, would in all probability have shut their doors against you.

Oh that the cause of truth may spread and increase, until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON

Newport, Perry Co., Pa.