Extracts of Letters

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N.Y. · Dec 19, 1854

Extracts of Letters.

Sister A. Barrows writes:—“Our hearts sympathize with you, and while we realize in some degree the care resting upon you, we often feel sad, and pray that God would sustain you with that grace and wisdom you need. When I reflect that those who have endured trials, and borne the burden and heat of the day, will soon share a rich and glorious reward forever in the kingdom of God, I do rejoice. All tears will then be wiped away from all faces, and they will feel richly compensated as they behold the beauties and glories of heaven. It will be cheap enough. I choose to suffer with them here, that I may share in that blessed inheritance. This sometimes seems too much for me to expect, yet I know that those who faithfully keep God’s commandments will overcome.

“The precious truths of the third message are dear to my heart. I earnestly desire to so live out

the truth that I may ever have the approbation of God. I see a greater fullness in Christ for me to enjoy, and higher attainments for me to acquire. I do feel resolved to press my way forward, to serve God with my whole heart, for I believe the hope of the faithful will soon be realized.

“We feel thankful for the Instructor. I think the lessons it contains are very instructive and profitable, and I think it should be sustained. I suppose that ere this your beloved sister sleeps in Jesus. My heart was affected when I read her last exhortation to us to be faithful, and I felt that I would strive to meet her in that better land, where sickness, pain or death can never come.”

Sister E. M. Barrows writes:—“We have no sympathy with those who are exerting themselves so much to crush some that have long stood in the front of the battle, and labored with untiring zeal in the cause of God. We believe their career will be short. O how much better for them had they made strait paths for their feet and not tried to turn others out of the way. The Lord cares for his people, and will not suffer one of his little ones to perish. Those who fully trust in him need have no fears of consequences, knowing that these things will only be for the furtherance of the gospel.

“I have not forgotten your first visit to this place, with what fervor of soul you and sister W. labored to raise the standard that had fallen in the dust on account of some who were disorderly. Neither have I forgotten the scene at the water side, how the blessing of the Lord rested upon us as you led some of us down into the water. These are bright spots in our experience. We are indeed thankful to God for the means that have been used for the advancement of his cause.

“The Lord has worked for us of late. Some have been added to our numbers. My heart is encouraged to trust in the Lord.

“The truth looks very excellent to me. This world is dark and dreary, but the blessed hope of reaching the saints’ happy home is indeed cheering. There tears will be wiped away. There the saint that has been borne down with trials will forever go free. O praise the Lord! I want to be there.”

Bro. Gould writes from Lawrenceburg, Ind.,—“We would be glad to have some of the servants of God come here and give us a course of lectures; as there are some in this place who have never had an opportunity of hearing lectures on present truth.”

E. J. Paine, writes from Barre, Dec. 10th, 1854:—“We are all striving to make our way home to mount Zion. The Lord is at work in this vicinity. The labors of Bro. Loughborough are being blessed. A number are very much interested. I wish he or some other lecturing brother would come this way soon.”