Trusting God and Keeping the Sabbath
By F. M. Palmiter
DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I feel that I would gladly give in my testimony in favor of the truth, might I feel the assurance that it would strengthen some lonely pilgrim as much as I myself have been comforted and my heart cemented in love with the remnant of God's people, while I have read their communications in the Review. But "blessed are they that sow beside all waters," and "we know not whether shall prosper, this or that." But I would like to state, for the encouragement of some one that is almost persuaded to be a christian, or having made a profession many years, has just found that he is not walking in the way of God's commands, that it was with much fear and trembling that I began to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. I feared that I must inevitably backslide without the helps, (as I had always thought them,) the class meetings, and church, going with the great congregation. But I felt that I must throw myself upon the Lord, trust wholly in him, cling to his word, search its pages daily and try to know the bearing of every line upon my life. And I have not searched in vain. Praise the name of the Lord! I feel that I have just begun to live. Yes, sweet Bible, I will hide thee deep and deeper in this heart. The Lord has been far better to me than all my fears. He has done more for me than all the class meetings ever could do. "The living, the living shall praise thee as I do this day." "Sanctify us through thy truth; thy word is truth." Four years are in the past, and I feel that I have proved him. But when I see the perils of these last days, my heart cries out, who now can be saved. The love of the world is so strong, its pleasures, its fashions are so attractive, especially to the young; and foremost in the race are those who make high professions of godliness, teachers in Israel. But let us hear the word of the Lord by the Prophet. [Mal. ii, 7,] "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; but ye have caused many to stumble at the law, and have not kept my ways, and have been partial in the law." Says the faithful and true Witness, "I know thy works." My heart sickens at the sight of professed Christians at the present day, with all their outward adornings. The Lord by the prophet Isaiah declares "Their tongue, and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory." Wo unto their soul. But a rich consolation is in reserve for those who obey. "Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him." Oh let us put righteousness on as a close garment worn about us continually. May our light be seen. I want to do in every little act as my Master shall approve. He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much. And though I have not with the remnant borne the burden and heat of the day, yet I am glad, and give glory to his name that he has not passed me by, but permits me to bear a witness to the truth before the world at this late hour, and to count myself a fellow traveler with the little flock, and your unworthy sister. F. M. PALMITER. Verona, N. Y., Oct. 18th, 1857.