REPORT FROM BRO. BLANCHARD.
By H. C. Blanchard
My last report ended January 24, 1869. Tuesday, the 26th, commenced a protracted meeting in Princeville, and continued till March 7. We held some forty meetings. The church, I trust, was benefited. Three made a start with us and united with the church. Last Sunday we cut the ice, and baptized some. Bro. B. F. Merritt and C. H. Bliss assisted some in the preaching. The weather, the most of the time, was very unfavorable, and the opposition strong. A good many have publicly acknowledged the seventh day as the only Bible Sabbath, but whether they will keep it, the future will tell. Sunday evening, March 7, I gave my farewell discourse to the friends in Princeville. I spoke from 2 Cor. xiii, 11. A large congregation was out to hear. In comparing the history and faith of St. Paul, with Seventh-day Adventists', I found the following similarity: 1. Paul believed that man was mortal, and that immortality was something to be obtained by well-doing. In speaking of man, he says, “This mortal must put on immortality.” He also says, “By patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality.” 2. He believed in the destruction of the wicked. He says, “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” 3. He did not think faith made void the law; but was of the opinion that it would establish the law. Rom. iii, 31. He thought it was holy, just, and good; Rom. vii, 12; and that persons who did not obey it were in possession of the carnal mind. See Rom. viii, 7. 4. He was a believer in the second personal advent of our Lord to this earth. He says, “For the Lord himself, shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” He kept the seventh day. On a certain occasion he called the chief of the Jews together, Acts xxviii, 17, and boldly told them that he had committed nothing against the customs of our Fathers, which would have been false if he had not kept the seventh day, as the Fathers were in the custom of keeping that day, not the first. Before his conversion he was a professor of religion, Acts xxvi, 5, and belonged to one of the popular churches, but when he embraced the unpopular religion of Jesus his former brethren were his worst enemies. Several times they would have killed him had it not been for the vigilance of the Roman soldiers. They laid very many grievous charges against him, but never accused him of violating the Sabbath, which is positive evidence that he kept it. Once when he was defending himself, Acts xxii, 23, they became so excited and mad at him that they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw up dust in the air. This was the kind of argument they used against Paul. Similar arguments are used by the Pharisees of the 19th century. Thus we see, dear reader, Paul's history and ours is some alike. Oh! let us be faithful to God and his word. Though friends and relatives may turn against us, I do rejoice that I am permitted to suffer some shame and reproach for Jesus and the truth. I still desire the prayers of God's people. Chillicothe, Ill., March 14. P. S. My P. O. address is Woodbourn, Macoupin Co., Ill., where I expect to locate my family in a few days.