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PASSING THOUGHTS

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1860

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 16, No. 14.

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PASSING THOUGHTS.

By GEO. WRIGHT.

BRO. SMITH: As a common sympathy and interest is felt in each heart of God's remnant people, how encouraging it is to hear from each other as churches and individuals. I have often thought what a blessing the Review is. Do we fully appreciate it? I fear not.Think of it, for a moment. Here we can exhort each other and tell of our joys and sorrows, hopes and fears,
“Though states and oceans intervene.”
Nothing tends more to cement us together as a people and unite our efforts, than the paper which comes to us with its soul-stirring epistles, its cheering reports, its clear and logical arguments drawn from that pure fountain of life, the book of God. Who would not put shoulder to the wheel and try to extend its circulation? God bless the Review in its mission of love and mercy, and all connected with it, is my prayer.
Last March we bid adieu to our dear brethren and sisters of the Lapeer (Mich.) church to whom we were attached by the tenderest ties. God bless you, dear brethren of Lapeer. Perhaps no one is better prepared to sympathize with you in the loss of your comfortable house of worship than myself. It cost struggle and sacrifice to erect it. Though the wicked burn our houses down over our heads, they can go no farther. God has promised deliverance to his people. Let us remember that Jesus has said, Pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, saith the Lord.
We found a few in this dark city striving to hold up the standard of truth. They gave us a hearty welcome. A few weeks after our arrival half of our small number (less than a dozen in all), had to leave, not being able to procure a livelihood here. This was discouraging, but still we hoped and prayed that the Lord would work in our behalf, and add to our number such as should be saved. Soon a brother and sister were added who had decided by reading and conversing with us, that we were keeping the true Sabbath. Within the last month two more brethren have decided to obey God and go with us to the goodly land.
One of those was an exhorter in the Christian church. A kind providence brought us to labor in the same shop. I presented the claims of the Lord's Sabbath, gave him books, prayed especially for him, and above all, endeavored to live out the truth before him, and the result is, he has taken hold of the truth with all his heart.
A similar course was pursued with a young man, who we learned had been reading some of our works, and had heard several lectures by Brn. Loughborough and Frisbie. We invited him to our house, found him under deep conviction, and very desirous to be a Christian. He said he was convinced of the truth, and wanted to obey the Lord. This gave us great freedom in talking the truth to him.
Our hearts soon ran together. Before we parted we knelt down together around the family altar. The Lord gave us his sweet Spirit while pleading in his behalf, and as we had faith to believe, he joined us, for the first time opening his mouth in prayer. Bless the Lord for the recollection of that hour. A few days after, he met me on the side-walk, grasped my hand, and said, I am resolved to keep the Lord's Sabbath, God's grace assisting. On asking what he intended to do, as he would probably lose his situation, My trust is in God, was his reply. Young men, you who are almost persuaded to be Christians, emulate this young brother's example. He left a pious mother in England some three years ago, to whom he intends to send the Review, and feels confident that when she sees the light, she will embrace it.
Thus the good work goes on. Let us thank God and take courage. Others are reading; and whenever we can get people to read, we place books in their hands, visit them, pray with them, and in so doing we get our own souls blessed and feel truly that the promises of God never fail, which declare that he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
GEO. WRIGHT.
Marshall, Mich.
P. S. We should be glad to have Bro White visit us soon. Feed my lambs, says the Saviour. I think the time has come when much good might be done here.
O. W.