p. 79 | Letters by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 8, 1865

Letters.

By Editor

“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 Sister Burgess.

Bro. White: Of the many that have come out in present truth, none have more reason to give thanks to God, the author of every good and perfect gift, than I. I was sent, at an early age, by my parents, to Sunday school, and from the instructions I there received, there was formed a love for good; and I became quite thoughtful. But, too soon these thoughts gave place to those of pleasure, and for a while I engaged in them. At length, my attention was again called to the subject of religion, and I resolved to spend the remainder of my time in trying to do the will of my Creator, and soon after united with the M. E. church. I had never heard more than the name of Seventh-day Adventists, until the summer of 1860, when Bro. Frisbie visited this county. I then heard two discourses, by which I became convinced of the Sabbath. But this was soon confused by those arguments generally given for that purpose. Thus I was, as I thought, set right again, thinking that what I had heard was delusory.

It was but a few weeks after I became settled in mind again, that I heard something said about the “Sleep of the dead,” which awakened curiosity in my mind, and I began to inquire about it. That I might understand it perfectly, a book entitled “Man not Immortal” was given to me for perusal. I read; but before I had read far, I found what I thought could not possibly be true. What! man in this state not possessing an immortal soul, an undying principle! What absurdity! But when the Scripture came, my mind began to waver. Can it be possible that the Bible will prove any doctrine, that book which was given by divine inspiration? I strove earnestly for light, but there seemed to be none. In this state of mind, days lengthened into weeks, but no relief came, until I came to the conclusion that I would think no more upon the subject. But the good seed was sown and could not be eradicated; for now as my mind had become comparatively calm, and I continued to read the words “which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith,” the more apparent did it become that if we would have eternal life, we must seek for immortality, as we do not now possess it. It was with joy that I received intelligence

of the tent being at Ithaca last summer; for I felt that I should receive light on what was then dark; and so it was. Although I could not attend the whole course of lectures, I could read the books on the different subjects, by which I found what my duty was and soon with my mother, commenced keeping the Sabbath. We feel that the day which the Lord has set apart as his Sabbath, is indeed a delight, and we are striving with those of like faith, to overcome that we may be ready and waiting when the Son of man shall appear upon the white cloud with power and great glory.

As a church, we feel that our Sabbath meetings are profitable, and we are striving to “put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” Pray for us that we be not overcome, but that we may at last rise triumphant, to be forever with the Lord.

In hope,

Julia A. Burgess.

Ithaca, Mich.