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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 13, 1866

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 27, No. 15.

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Letters.

“Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.”
This department of the paper is designed for the brethren and sisters to freely and fully communicate with each other respecting their hopes and determinations, conflicts and victories, attainments and desires, in the heavenly journey. Seek first a living experience and then record it, carefully and prayerfully, for the comfort and encouragement of the other members of the household of faith.

From Sister Cole.

Bro. WHITE: I want to be one of the number that fear the Lord and speak often one to another; for we are taught that the Lord hearkens and hears it, and a book of remembrance is written for them that fear the Lord and that think upon his name. “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”
How solemn the thought that the day for the Lord to make up his jewels is just before us!
And how good the Lord is to give us such a flood of heavenly light, in this solemn time, that we be not hindered in our work of preparing him an acceptable jewel. Truly the Lord is good to his people in these last days. I thank him for preparing my heart to receive his truth. I thank him that he has given me faith to believe his testimonies with my whole heart. His promises look large and free, all-sufficient help in every time of need.
That was a blessed day to me when I heard Bro. Bourdeau's remarks on the subject of overcoming. It began to work on my heart like leaven, that worketh until all is leavened. Why, I have not a discouraging word to bring. I do not see as the Lord requires any thing of us but what we can easily perform with willing minds.
When I am tempted to think it is hard to deny self, hard to suffer for Christ, I have only to think of the eternal weight of glory and the immortal inheritance just before us, and I feel willing to suffer on, to crucify self, in whatever way the Lord pleases.
How good it is to be reconciled to God. In times past I have found him as good as his word; and I will put my trust in him.
“Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness; make thy way straight before my face.” C. E. COLE.
Marshall, Mich.
Bro. J. H. Cook writes from Mound City, Kansas: There are in these parts six of us who are trying to live in obedience to the requirements of the third angel's message. Here is a wide field of labor for those who have the cause at heart.
There are a number of chances here for the homeless to help themselves to the benefits of the Homestead law, and good chances for those who have capital, to invest in improved lands. At present we feel somewhat lonesome being so far separated from the people of God, and the endearing associations connected therewith. Yet we are not without hope, for we realize even here, that God is the portion of all those who put their trust in him. We prize here more highly than ever the weekly visits of the Review, and read its pages as the hungry would partake of food, and feel to take fresh courage again to combat the apostasies of the age, and the darkness by which we are surrounded.
Bro. C. Monroe writes from Waldo, Me.: Could I speak to your correspondents, I would say to every one of them, Be just, and fear not; have that charity, that love, that beareth all things, and never faileth. 1 Cor. xiii, 7, 8. Till we reach this point, we are wanting and incomplete; but when we do, God's will is our will. We have nothing to fear, the king of terrors not excepted; Job xviii, 14; for this places us out of harm's way. 1 Pet. iii, 13.
Suppose we are neglected, injured, or abused, by any one. What then? Better suffer a thousand wrongs than do one? When our enemies, or even our friends, injure us, they give us the golden opportunity of returning good for evil, and showing our superiority by forgiveness and kindness. This is all the revenge allowed by our good Master; and having his blessed Spirit, it is all we feel disposed to show, bearing all, as he bore, meekly, submissively.
Such is my love to my dear Saviour, that my greatest trial, if I mistake not, is injury, or supposed injury, done to him in the house of his friends, or out of it, especially the former. Hence my tears, as I read the story of his passion—the injury that was done him, and is still done him, by our sins! How can we so often thus crucify our greatest, dearest, best Friend? This is not done by a deeply broken, contrite heart; but the reverse. I could lay down my life for him, I think, sooner than knowingly injure or abuse him, or see him abused, with a heart not deeply pained, or bleeding with anguish.
Bro. L. W. Morrison writes from Daviess Co., Mo.: I would say that there are a few of us here trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Although many obstacles are thrown in the way, yet we have been able to overcome them so far, and still feel like pressing our way to Mount Zion.
We have occasionally been blest with words of encouragement from brethren traveling this way to look at our country, and some have settled among us; still there is room for others. We would be happy indeed to have some of the messengers come this way. It would be encouraging to us all, and no doubt result in good.
Bro. W. Sutliff writes from Falls City, Dunn Co., Wis.: I have been reading Vol. iii, of Spiritual Gifts. I am satisfied that we have the gift of prophecy in the church. I always, before, supposed that the acts of the patriarchs were all ordered by God. I now plainly see that it was man's interference with God's plans that caused all the confusion and wickedness which was connected with the lives of those good men. This removes the last doubt from my mind that the Bible is the book of God. It also shows me that God will not permit even his saints to deviate from the way which he has marked out for them, without chastising them.
This is far different from the course of a Methodist preacher who called on me a few days ago. He said we had better drop these little differences and attend to the weightier matters. I proposed to attend to both. He said it made no difference about the Sabbath. I suggested that if God was not particular about his Sabbath he might then occasionally permit us to swear! or now and then to steal!
We are sadly in want of some one to come here who is able to proclaim with power, the third angel's message to a slumbering community. I am satisfied that great good can be done here. The people are anxious to hear lectures on present truth. One wealthy man says he will give forty dollars if we will get a preacher to come and give a course of lectures. Will some one come? If so, please write and let us know.