The Sabbath Truth in Rochester
By E. C. Skinner
BRO. SMITH:—Herein I would cheerfully acknowledge the receipt of the Review which by the kindness of the dear brethren and sisters I have had the privilege of reading since three years last June when I embraced the truth of the seventh-day Sabbath. My heart has been cheered from time to time in reading the arguments in favor of the blessed truth, and still more in reading the soul-cheering communications from my dear brethren and sisters scattered abroad in this wilderness world. I kept the Sabbath eight months in this city alone; and yet not alone; for Jesus was with me and that to bless. I found it was good to obey God. I continued to pray and believe that the Lord would reward me openly and give me some souls that would come in and worship God with me; and, glory be to God! he did. Bro. Bates was sent and his labors were blest, and five embraced the truth. Since that time others have been added to our number. We have been striving to live; but the enemy of course has been around and even among us but we are told in the Word to resist the Devil and he will flee from us. We must resist him steadfast in the truth. We must have on the whole armor of God that we may fight manfully the good fight of faith and overcome. The Word says, Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. I have none in my family now who keep the Sabbath of the Lord with me since the death of my companion, who died a year ago the 16th of this present month. He embraced the truth of the Sabbath about one year before he died. I embraced the doctrine of the near coming of the Lord in 1842 in the month of May. I have never for a moment doubted the truth of it. I praise the Lord for the way he has led me, and for all the light that has shone upon my path-way, and for the blessed promise that it shall shine more and more until the perfect day. Glory to God! I believe we have had the first Message in the past and the midnight cry and are now having the third; and I expect it will go with a loud voice when the church gets right. Dear brethren and sisters let us come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Let us work while the day lasts; for the night will soon come wherein no man can work. Let us be in our closets more, holding sweet communion with our heavenly Father. We must come boldly in the all-prevailing name of Jesus. While we pray, let us believe that we have the very things for which we ask; then God is well pleased to give. He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than earthly parents are to give good gifts to their children. Do we believe this? O brethren and sisters exchange all your unbelief for true faith in God's blessed word. I know from blest experience that it is good to trust in the Lord. He is a prayer hearing and prayer answering God. I have passed through the deep waters of affliction; but thank God they have never overflown me. I have called upon him in the day of trouble, and I have always found him near at hand and not afar off. When I have had burdens I remembered he has told us to cast them upon him and we should be sustained. Think ye I would burden myself, when my Father could dispose of it so easy? I would not. Now sisters if you have companions who are not in the truth, bring their cases to your Father, and begin to pray and not faint; you will see the desires of your heart granted. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, Remember this. If ye abide in me and my words abide in you ask what ye will and it shall be done. Again, And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive. Let us begin anew to live for God and let his blessed will be done in us and by us. I feel for the remnant scattered over this world, I remember them in my devotions, especially those I have visited in Hubbardston and Princeton. The Lord is with that people. I love them all. I pray the Lord to direct them and sustain them and give them perfect faith. I anticipate one day meeting them, with all the blood-washed company, and unite our voices in singing the song of Moses and the Lamb where parting will be no more. Yours in patient waiting for Jesus.
E. C. SKINNER.
Springfield Mass.