The Story of our Health Message

“A Solemn Covenant” Signed

The Spirit of God was striving with this earnest, conscientious young man and was bringing to him a conviction of sin and an earnest desire to be a Christian. The severe illness of a member of his crew brought to him serious thoughts of the hereafter, and finding a place of retirement, he offered his first prayer to God. He determined to persevere in his petitions till he should find pardon and peace for his troubled mind. When his shipmate died, it was his duty, as captain, to take charge of the burial. Four days afterward he signed “a solemn covenant with God” copied from Philip Doddridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, a portion of which reads: SHM 54.2

“This day do I with the utmost solemnity surrender myself to Thee. I renounce all former lords that have had dominion over me, and I consecrate to Thee all that I am, and all that I have.” SHM 54.3

In his thorough and methodical way he prefaced his signature with these words: “Done on board the brig ‘Empress’ of New Bedford, at sea, Oct. 4, 1824, in latitude 90° 50’ North, and longitude 34° 50’ West, bound to Brazil.”—Ibid., 190. SHM 54.4

On his return home he erected the family altar, and soon after this, in the spring of 1827, he was baptized in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and united with the Christian Church. SHM 54.5

Having become thoroughly convinced of the evils of strong drink, he was impressed, “forcibly impressed,” as he relates, “with the importance of uniting my energies with others, to check, if possible, the increasing ravages of intemperance.” SHM 55.1