EFFECT OF MISSIONARY WORK.
By Eld. R. F. Cottrell
A MEMBER of my family has been engaged for some time past in sending off the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and tracts. For her encouragement, some fruit has appeared. A lady in Barton county, Missouri, has embraced the Sabbath and sent her subscription for the SIGNS. There seems to be no other Sabbath-keeper in her vicinity. It may be inferred from her letters, though she has not said so plainly, that her husband keeps the Sabbath also. She says: “We are convinced that we have been keeping the wrong day for the Sabbath. We believe in God, in Christ, in the Bible, in immersion for baptism, and in the necessity of Christians living strictly moral and religious lives. We do not have any opportunity of attending church on the Sabbath. The churches hold their meetings on Sunday, the day we once supposed to be the Sabbath. I try to be careful how I employ the hours of the Sabbath (Saturday, as we used to call it). I have talked with a number of people on the Advent faith, and lent a few SIGNS OF THE TIMES. My parents are reading and investigating. We thank you for your kindness in first sending the paper. We like the paper, and will gladly accept the doctrine, if we can understand and believe.” Perhaps it may be interesting and encouraging to others in like circumstances with this sister, to publish a line that I have just written to her:— “Dear Sister,—As my daughter-in-law has been enjoying a very interesting correspondence with you, I take the liberty to write a word to be sent in her next. I will say for your comfort and encouragement that you are not the only one that has embraced the present message of truth, and turned from the precept of men to the Sabbath of the Lord, as you have done. Scores, and I think I might safely say hundreds, have like you embraced the truth by reading, alone, and are striving for a preparation to meet our soon coming Lord. There are scattered in almost every nation those who have the light of the revealed truth of God. If you are lonely, you are not the only one in your condition. New cases are constantly coming to light through our missionary work with publications. “It seems strange, after so long a time in which it has been taken for granted that the first day of the week is the Sabbath by divine authority, that there should be such agitation on the subject at this time. But prophecy foretold the great apostasy which should think to change the law of God (Dan. 7:25), and it was also predicted that the final message of probation would develop the people prepared for the second coming of Christ, whose distinguishing characteristics are the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev. 14:9–12. “It is evident that the reason for the present movement is that the time has come for this message of the ‘third angel’ to be fulfilled; and the Lord is moving among his people in its fulfillment. ‘This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’ “At the same time, popular religionists are preparing the way to enforce the tradition of men—the worship of the beast—by law. See Rev. 13:11–18. The ‘religious amendment’ of our national Constitution, when obtained, will open the way and give power to enforce this tradition by law, a tradition that makes void the commandment of God. See Matt. 15:1–9. This will bring the last persecution, from which the people of God will be delivered by the coming of Christ, and they will be caught up to stand with him upon Mt. Zion. Rev. 14:1–5. Let us strive to so give our whole heart and life to the Lord, that we may be of that number.189 “My best wishes to your husband; hope he is interested in these things, and that he, with you, will pursue the way of truth, which ends in eternal life. Would be glad of a line from him.”