ENCOURAGING REPORT FROM OHIO.
By I. D. Van Horn
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, I left West Townsend, and stopped at the good home of Bro. Smith in Norwalk. I found him firm in the truth, buoyant in spirit, and cheerful in mind, though standing alone in his family. The next day, in company with Bro. Smith, I went to East Townsend, where I enjoyed some good meetings with the brethren and sisters who came together to attend the Quarterly Meeting. On the Sabbath the burden of our testimony to them was, to be zealous and repent, to be thoroughly converted to the truth, and to show their faith by their works. We exhorted them to exalt the standard of holiness among them by putting away the filth of the flesh, that they might fit up their bodies as suitable temples for the indwelling of the Spirit of God. From the united testimony of all, we trust they saw the necessity of the Health Reform, and what it was designed to accomplish among the remnant people of God. On Sunday we had a free time in speaking twice to large and attentive congregations on the ever-stirring themes of eternal life through Christ, and the final reward of the saints. The little company of commandment-keepers in this vicinity have been encouraged and strengthened to go on in the good way, and the minds of others, we trust, have been favorably impressed with the light of present truth as the result of this meeting.176 Monday 25th, I went to Strongsville where I was made comfortable at the good home of Bro. Thomas White. After spending a day in resting, I was prepared again to begin my labors on Tuesday evening. We were all made happy to meet with our esteemed Bro. and sister Sweet, and Bro. and sister Bibbee at our place of meeting. At our first meeting, while contemplating the glories of the saints’ inheritance, the earth made new, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon us and we all felt to praise him for his goodness to us. But this proved to be only a foretaste of what was in store for us the next day. We came together on Wednesday morning and commenced our meeting with a season of prayer. The Lord gave us a rich blessing, and his promise was verified to us as given by the prophet, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” I then spoke for an hour on true piety and godliness. The Lord gave us good freedom, especially as we referred to the abstaining from fleshly lusts that war against the soul. We all said, “Let the cleansing process go on, cost what it will, only that we are made ready for the coming of our Lord?” At the close of this meeting we all went about half a mile to a stream of water, where three, who have recently commenced keeping all the commandments of God, expressed their determination to walk in newness of life by being buried with Christ in baptism. This was a beautiful scene, and a season of enjoyment to all. But our cup of blessing was not yet full. We returned from the water, and after taking some refreshments, we enjoyed a rich social meeting, which closed by seven uniting with the church, making their present number fifteen, and the celebration of the ordinances. This was a sweet, heavenly season, and a feast to the soul. Blessed be the name of the Lord! for now and then a bright spot and a cheering ray of hope as we journey in the narrow pathway to Mount Zion. In the evening we went to the school house and spoke with freedom to an attentive congregation on the sealing time. Rev. vii, 1-4. We briefly examined the line of prophecy—the seven seals, showing the path of the Christian church as she started in her purity, her descent, during the great apostasy, into the wilderness, her long, bloody track as she passed through the persecutions of the dark ages, and her final rise and triumph as the sealed remnant come up to Mount Zion. As we tried in weakness to portray the glories of this triumph before the people, showing, from Rev. iii, 12, that the saints who were waiting for their Lord, would be sealed and labeled similar to the manner we address a letter to our friends; having written upon them the name of God, the name of his residence—the new Jerusalem, and the Saviour’s new name, being placed in his care, we received a rich blessing. For a few moments we were almost lost, seeming to be there, tasting the sweets of the heavenly home. But no, we are yet here in this dark world of sin and sorrow. However if we are faithful we shall not have long to stay here. Praise the Lord! the time is soon coming for the final deliverance of his people. We will do his holy will, hope in his mercy, and finally share with the redeemed in their glorious reward. Wayne, O., March 5, 1867.