Report from Bro. Cottrell.
By R. F. Cottrell
BRO. WHITE: Since my last report, from Catlin, I have been laboring in a place entirely new, in Corning, Steuben Co., N. Y., five miles from the village of that name. Held meetings here from Dec. 17 to the close of the year, giving seventeen discourses. The going was bad much of the time, and the congregations were small with few exceptions. However, I trust that good has been done. Seven, I believe, publicly confessed that I had preached the truth on the Sabbath question, by rising to their feet. May God help them to realize the importance of living up to their convictions, and of keeping all the commandments of God. I have reason to think that some are established in the truth and will prove steadfast. It was expected by friends there, that there would be a discussion on the Sabbath question when I came, as a minister who often preached there had signified that he was ready to meet the question; but to their disappointment he did not appear till the last day in the afternoon, and I had closed my meetings. Then, instead of meeting what I had preached, he tried to prejudice the people against the Advent movement in the past, and upon the immortality question, a question I had not introduced. I do not say that he took this course because he knew that he could not meet the truth I had presented on the Sabbath; but if he was not aware of it, Satan was; and he is the instigator to all opposition to the truth. I would say to the friends there, hold fast what you have learned, and in due season other points of truth shall be fully vindicated, God's word honored and his justice, goodness and mercy, truth, love, and righteousness maintained; and those false imputations against his character, which represent him as an implacable, unmerciful tyrant, delighting in the eternal anguish of those he has made, repelled. Be patient, brethren and sisters, and in your patience keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, and God will keep you, lead you into all truth, and prepare you for a place in his kingdom which is at hand, even at the doors.