REPORT FROM BRO. VAN HORN.
By I. D. Van Horn
Nov. 18, I left Ohio and returned home for the purpose of resting, visiting friends, and making preparations in the way of clothing, for winter. Battle Creek, with the church all alive in the truth, is a good place for refreshment for the worn and weary spirit that has been depressed by the labors of the past. It is truly a feast to enjoy the meetings that are now held in the church in this place. The 28th, in company with my wife, I went to my father's, near Jackson; and it gave me much joy to have the privilege of once more seeing my parents and other kind friends whom I dearly love. No sooner had my friends and acquaintances learned that I had come among them, than I was solicited to preach to them. I gave out appointments, and, though I was with them only six days, I gave six discourses. Many of them were deeply anxious that I should remain and give a course of lectures, and if I could not stay now, to come back as soon as I could; for they wanted to hear our views of the prophecies. During the time I enjoyed a good meeting with the brethren and sisters in Tompkins. It was truly cheering to spend a Sabbath among those with whom I first met after embracing the truth. The first Sabbath in December I spent with the brethren in Parma. This was their Monthly Meeting, and brethren and sisters from other places were present. The Lord gave us his Spirit while we tried to draw near him by faith. On first-day I gave two discourses in the village. There was a good attendance and we have reason to believe that good was done. The brethren and sisters received strength, and prejudice was allayed in the minds of others. Sabbath Dec. 14, I attended the Monthly Meeting at Convis. Some of the brethren and sisters from Newton were present. This was a good meeting. The Lord gave us the aid of his Spirit while we tried to speak to this people. The burden of our testimony to them was to show the contrast between bearing the image of the world, and the image or likeness of Christ. To bear the image of the world is to act and do like the world. But to conform to the world is to bring upon us the frown of God. What the Lord requires us to do is in direct opposition to the world. Therefore to conform to the will of God, or, in other words, to bear the image of Jesus, will make us peculiar in our appearance before the world. But God cannot save us unless we do all that he requires of us. When we walk out in all the light he gives us, then we place ourselves where he can reach us by his Spirit. But to reject light is to place ourselves beyond his reach, and to bring upon us condemnation. By this may be seen the importance of moving out in the Health Reform, that, by so doing, we may make a full consecration to him, and so purify our bodies that they may be fit temples for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. These evidences so affected the minds of the brethren and sisters, that in our social meeting which followed, confessions were made, and new resolutions formed. All earnestly desired to get nearer the Lord, and it was evident to all that his Spirit was in our midst. Bro. White, of Newton, made a confession of his coldness, and backward state in the cause, and with tears flowing from his eyes, asked to be remembered by all before the Lord. He had scarcely taken his seat, when his son Charles, arose for the first time and said, he “wanted to be a Christian and go with this people to Mount Zion.” This gave us all encouragement and we felt to give the Lord all the praise for his goodness to us. May the Lord help us to appreciate all he is doing for us, and strive more earnestly to do his holy will.