MY VISIT EAST by John Nevins Andrews

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1859

MY VISIT EAST.

By John Nevins Andrews

DEAR BRO. SMITH: I have now been at home several weeks. I esteem it a privilege to express my sincere gratitude for the many favors bestowed upon me by the people of God in my recent tour. To me this tour has been one of deep interest, and I trust of lasting benefit. It has caused me much joy to meet once more with those that I have taken sweet counsel with in former years. To find so many steadfast in the faith of the gospel, and to see that many others have joined themselves to the people of God, was very cheering to me. Yet I missed some dear friends who now sleep in the silent grave; a lot to be envied rather than regretted. But the morning will break at last, and those who watch in sadness for its dawn will in due time behold the splendor of a morning without clouds.

--- "How well, is thine; How long, leave to the will of heaven."

At the Review Office my visit was very pleasant. I have had some acquaintance with the toilsome efforts by which in past years the truth has been published. It was very evident to me that the good hand of God had wrought a favorable change in its affairs. The way is open for the truth of God to be published on an extensive scale, and it is my earnest prayer that God will bless this important instrumentality and make it the means of advancing his glory and the salvation of precious souls. I have no doubt that such will be the case.

The church in Rochester are striving to be overcomers. It seems to be a hard place to bring men to the truth, yet there are some who will follow the Lord at the expense of all. Would that there were many such in every place. I met many old friends in Western New York, whom I also hope to meet on mount Zion. Yet this remains to be decided; and if the prize is finally awarded to us, it will not be because we run well for a season, but because we are faithful till the crown is given. There remains a rest to the people of God, but it is not yet decided whether we shall enter that rest.

At Parma and at Clarkson we had seasons of such interest that they will never be forgotten by me. May they prove of lasting profit to those who were present. What will be the feelings of those who shall at last find themselves on the left hand, when they call to mind those seasons in which God in mercy came especially near.

Since my return I have been preparing for publication such "Historical Extracts relating to the Sabbath," as my time and means enabled me to obtain while in Rochester. Will soon forward the manuscript to you. It is necessarily a meagre collection, but at some future time it may be improved. Hoping to be guided by the counsel of God in the path of duty, I remain your brother.

J. N. ANDREWS.

Waukon, Iowa, April 15th, 1859.