FRUITS OF BIBLE-READING.
By N. Battin
AFTER an absence of two years and a half, I have returned to North-western Missouri. During this absence, I left the Baptist Church, of which I was formerly a member, and began to keep the Sabbath, and to preach the third angel's message. When I returned, I very naturally expected to meet the fiercest opposition from all my brethren in the Baptist ministry. But, thank God, I have found one who does not oppose the truth. I have found Eld. E. S. Eyerly keeping the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Eld. Eyerly stands at the head of the Baptist ministry in North-western Missouri. He is clerk of the Baptist Association in this section, and is placed by that body at the head of all the missionary work of the Association. He is by far the most successful worker connected with that body. The Baptist papers of both Missouri and Iowa have spoken of him in the highest terms. He is pastor of the High Creek Baptist Church of Atchison Co., a church having a membership numbering about one hundred and fifty. This church has paid him a salary of $800 a year. But I am glad to state that he cheerfully leaves all to follow God. He has kept three Sabbaths, and says that he has never before enjoyed so much peace of mind as during this time. He came out on the Sabbath by simply taking the word of God, and, beginning with the second chapter of Genesis, reading everything the good old book has to say about the Sabbath. Not only has he found the truth on the Sabbath in this manner, but almost every prominent point of present truth. He has found by an examination of the prophecies, that we are living in the last days; that Christ will soon appear personally and literally, and that previous to his coming the world will be warned, and God's people gathered out and prepared by a special work. He understands, as we do, that the 144,000 are the saints who will be living when Christ appears; and that they are Sabbath-keepers gathered out by the third angel's message, of Rev. 14. He is a firm believer in the doctrine of the perpetuity of spiritual gifts, and understands that the remnant people will have these gifts. The sanctuary question he has not yet investigated, but desires very much to do so. His mind is very deeply impressed in regard to the prophecies. Some of the members of his church will doubtless keep the Sabbath with him, while others are growing bitter. He intends to agitate the Sabbath question in the Baptist papers of this State if they will open their columns to him. In two weeks I shall begin a course of lectures here, if God permits. Watson, Mo., Sept. 3, 1877.