p. 123 | Lost and Found

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 19, 1865

Lost and Found.

WE shall not forget an hour's experience in the vast wilderness of Northern New York, illustrating the expression of joy over the prodigal's return, "The lost is found."

In going from one solitary lake to another, we started in advance of the Indian guide along a narrow path, quite sure we were taking the right direction. All sounds of human life disappeared, and the stillness was suddenly broken by the noise of a rushing stream. We awoke as from a dream, to find that we were lost. The little path of the hunter led, we knew not whither in the great forest, through which the panther's scream was often heard.

We stood and fired the rifle, providentially with us. Oh the horror of the long, long moments, till the responsive report of a gun reached the ear. Soon after the Indian appeared, looking like an angel of light and mercy. The re-action in feeling was too great for expression.

Never had I so deeply felt the utter desolation, however unrealized by himself or any of us, of the sinner's condition in the dark wilderness of sin. Nor had I before had such an appreciation of the joy in Heaven, where both facts are seen as they are, over one recovered wanderer from God and glory. The Holy Spirit estimated the truth when he declared, "Let him know that he that converteth a sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."