Bro. WHITE: The Lord is manifesting himself unto his people in Oswego and Jefferson counties, as he does not unto the world. We had the best Monthly Meeting the first Sabbath in Feb. that we ever had in Roosevelt or in Oswego county. Bro. Taylor was with us and laid the axe at the root of the tree, which caused the brethren and sisters to begin to bring forth good fruit, by humbling themselves greatly before the Lord, by confessing their sins one to another, and taking up the stumbling-blocks out of each other's, and sinners' way.110
Truly the spirit of Elijah the prophet was there, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers: There was one infidel in the house who was affected unto tears in beholding the wonderful work and power of God operating on the hearts of his people. There was also a German who had only been in this country a few weeks, and could neither speak nor understand our language, who was also affected to tears.
There were brethren and sisters gathered from Kirkville, West Monroe, Clay, and Oswego. After getting together through a bad storm, the storm increased, and continued, so that we were blocked in by the storm and snow, and could not get away, but continued the meetings four days. Those that thus confessed their sins, were greatly blessed, and their children were converted to God. Bro. Patten, wife, and daughters, were much blessed, and God worked through Bro. P. to the edification of the church, and for the good of some that were under the power of darkness. The last meeting, Tuesday evening, was a most triumphant time; and the loud praises of God, ascended from most, if not all in the house; and continued until after midnight.
Last Sabbath, the 10th, I attended the meeting at Adams' Center. While there, Bro. Taylor received a letter from Roosevelt, stating that the meetings had continued every evening since he left, and that the interest was increasing, and God was working in power, not only for his people but also for sinners, and that if the interest continued to increase, their house would soon be filled. They also requested Bro. Taylor to come back immediately and take charge of, and help carry on, the meeting; but having his appointments out, and there being strong brethren there who were capable, if they only kept humble, of carrying on the meetings, he did not feel it duty to comply with their request.
The meeting at Adams' Center commenced about the same as at Roosevelt, and continued for a season in the same direction. The work did not take quite so deep root in many of the saints as at Roosevelt; but the same spirit in a degree was there, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. On the whole, we had a good and profitable meeting—the best probably that they ever had at Adams' Center.
Bro. Taylor was with us, and seemed to be filled with the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, and spoke the truths connected with the third angel's message with power and with the demonstration of the Holy Spirit.
Brethren and sisters, it is high time that we let the spirit of the third angel's message have a large place in our hearts, and work like leaven there, until the whole lump becomes leavened and holy unto God; then can we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto him, which is our reasonable service; then we shall not be conformed to this world, but we shall be transformed by the renewing of our minds; and then we can prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
Brethren and sisters, I feel to thank God with all my heart for his abundant grace and mercy to such a poor sinner as I have been; and that he has called me to go with his remnant people who are keeping his commandments, and the faith of Jesus. What greater honor could be bestowed on us, than to be called with this holy calling? Oh, I mean by the grace of God to so live, that I may not only be called, but also chosen. God, by his Holy Spirit, I believe, has of late worked a good work in my heart, and I want it to go on unto perfection, until I shall find myself among those "that are without fault before the throne, and in whose mouth there was found no guile."
I would say, to the praise of God, that the "Health Reform" has done a great work for me, not only in body, but also in mind. In transgressing the laws of my being all my life, I had become the mere shadow of a man, ready at any moment to drop into an untimely grave; but thank God, since I have been trying to bring my habits of life to conform to God's word, and the laws of life, I feel like a new being, both in body and mind. I now enjoy a comfortable degree of health; and instead of being most of the time filled with aches and pains in my body, and the mind desponding, discouraged, and many times without hope, I am now free from physical suffering, and enjoy almost constantly that peace of mind which none can enjoy without obeying the laws of God, both morally and physically.
We must come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, or he will curse us as he did "Meroz and the inhabitants thereof." Judges v, 23. And in order to do this, we must take hold with zeal of the work of reform, "and cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Then can we perfect holiness in the fear of God." Then shall we be temples of the Holy Spirit, and be prepared to participate in the loud cry which we have been talking about so long. When we purify ourselves by obeying all the truth, then will God fill us with the Holy Spirit, and we then can glorify him with our bodies and with our spirits which are his. Then we shall go forth terrible as an army with banners. I verily believe that the work of God is much retarded, by his people not taking hold of, and living out the light that we have had on this subject. "If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land!" How much better it is to obey and receive a blessing, than to rebel and be cursed.
"Dearly beloved," says the apostle, "I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and fulfill not the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit lusteth against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." That is, if we fulfill the lusts of the flesh, we cannot walk in the spirit, or be led by it. "Be not deceived; for God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its affections (passions, margin) and lusts.
These scriptures, with many others that might be quoted, ought to be enough to convince us of our duty in regard to overcoming the lusts of the flesh; but until we take hold in earnest and live out this reform, in our diet, and other habits, we shall never be able to overcome the lusts of the flesh.
By the grace of God, and the help of his Holy Spirit, I am determined to be a perfect overcomer.
ELIAS GOODWIN.