Appeal to the Brethren in Ohio.
By I. D. VAN HORN
DEAR BRETHREN; The word of God, when considered in the light of prophecy, clearly opens the view to us all that the last days, with the perils thereof, are upon us. I need not present evidence to show this to you, for you are all well acquainted with the facts that sustain it. The Lord is soon to appear, to gather all his faithful ones to himself; and, in view of this, the question uppermost in your minds is, “What shall I do that I may be prepared to meet him?” You are all aware, then, that a preparation to meet him in peace is necessary. The glory and beauty of present truth is shining around you, and you all rejoice in its light. You want your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you. You profess to have the light, and the Lord requires of you to “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” By your good works, then, you are to show to those whom you would have receive the last warning message, the sincerity of your hearts, and the beauty and harmony of the truth. In view of the above facts, and of the solemn and important time in which we are living, allow me to present a few things for your consideration. You have done nobly, the past few years, in sustaining the cause among you, though you have passed through many severe trials and discouragements. The most of you have stood faithfully at your post, even when you saw the laborers in word and doctrine all forsaking you. God has blessed you for this, and you will not lose your reward. Your prayers for help have ascended on high, and they have been answered. Last June, Bro. Lawrence and myself came among you, and we have spared no pains or time, nor consulted our own convenience, but have labored almost incessantly in the fear of God, to advance the cause of truth among you. Our labors have been fruitful, but not so abundant as we had hoped. I have visited you in the Quarterly Meetings, and was made to rejoice to see your earnestness in maintaining the truth. I have made arrangements to visit you again, in as many places as I can in the limited time that I can be with you. Let every one that can, make preparations to attend these meetings. Make some sacrifice rather than to stay at home. Come with a mind and will to do your duty, and bear some part in the work. Let these meetings result in good to you all, and to the glory of God. You all have a duty to do in other respects besides attending meetings. The Review claims your attention. As it now comes to you in its enlarged form and new dress, it is the best religious paper in the world. Many of you would not part with it for double its price. There are others who love its weekly visits, yet they do not realize what it costs to send it to them, and they become slack in paying for it. Now let me ask you, Shall it be sustained? Let every one who is behind on their subscription answer, Yes. Not by words merely, but by paying up, and a year in advance, immediately. Systematic Benevolence should not be forgotten by you. There are none that ought to excuse themselves from it under any consideration. You are all well pleased to have ministers come and labor among you, and you should realize that they must be sustained. The plan of s. b., well kept up, will abundantly do this. Let every one, therefore, enter into it, the lonely ones as well as those living in organized churches. When I come around among you, I shall look after these things. May God help you, dear brethren, to be alive to these things, and to all the interests of the cause of present truth. The Health Reform should not be lost sight of. It is doing a wonderful work for us as a people. It demands of us immediate action. If we move out in the way the Lord directs, there will be no danger. A great work is to be done in this direction before we get through. Brethren, the Lord is in the work. Be faithful, and he will reward you with eternal life. Appleton, Ohio, Jan. 29, 1867.