It will doubtless interest the brethren to hear of the state of the cause in those places we visited in our late tour; so we will give a brief sketch.
On our way we met with the brethren in New Ipswich, Bennington, and Washington, (N. H.) In the last two named places they have but recently embraced the message of the third angel, yet they are decided and strong. Our dear Bro. Wheeler, of Washington, told us, with much feeling, that he felt deeply impressed with a sense of duty to go out and give the message. We hope the way will soon open before our brother, so that he may go out and sound the third message with success, as he did the two former cries.
At Waterbury, (Vt.) a goodly number of disciples came together.—Bro. Joseph Baker, of Lebanon, (N. H.) was with us. His decided and faithful testimony for the truth added much to the interest of the meeting. We learn that he is out among the brethren giving the message. May the Lord bless his labors, and give him access to the hearts of those brethren with whom he labored, and held sweet counsel in sounding the "everlasting gospel" and the fall of "Babylon." A large portion of the Adventists, among the mountains of Vt. and N. H., have heard, with joy, the former messages, especially the "Seventh Month Cry," from the mouth of Bro. Baker. And we expect that many, in the wide "harvest" before him, will, through his labors, receive this last message of mercy to the "little flock." Our meeting at W. was one of labor and some trial, yet God gave us the victory, and the truth triumphed. Some, who had never heard our position so fully explained, confessed the truth with joy. A spirit of fanaticism, which has struggled hard in Vermont, was happily checked, and, we think a good step was taken to promote gospel order in the church. Bro. A—A—, who has traveled much from place to place, and to whom Tim. iii, 6, may apply, was, in a kind manner, advised by the unanimous voice of all present to seek a steady home, and no longer be a trial to his16
brethren by traveling. At this meeting we formed a happy acquaintance with a number who have recently embraced present truth, and who will, we believe, prove a blessing to the cause.
We visited a number of other towns in Vermont where the truth is taking deep root in the hearts of honest souls who have been prejudiced against our views till recently. One John Libby, of Johnson, Vt., is doing what he can to prejudice those few, with whom he has influence, against the truth by reporting falsehoods about the brethren and their faith. As Paul said of the copper-smith, (II Tim. iv, 11,) “the Lord reward him according to his works.”
We learned that it had been reported in Bristol, (Vt.) that we profess to be the “angel ascending from the East, having the seal of the living God,” &c.—Rev. vii, 2. But those who have read our writings, and have known our faith, know better. We have believed and taught that the ascending angel of Rev. vii, 2, was a symbol of the last sealing message of mercy to the remnant; the same as the angel with the “everlasting gospel” [Rev. xiv, 6, 7] was a symbol of the Advent message as preached by Bro. Miller and others. And we have given no more reason for men to report that we believe that any one man is the ascending angel, than has been given through Advent papers, or otherwise, that Mr. Miller, or Mr. Himes, professed to be the angel with the “everlasting gospel.”
When men resort to flying reports against individuals in order to put down the views of a class of Christians, they betray a want of Scripture argument against the views in question. Such are more to be pitied than censured.
We also visited the brethren at Fairhaven and Dartmouth, (Mass.) and had freedom in presenting the evidences of our position. God has revived his bleeding cause in these places wonderfully since last June. In Dartmouth a few have very lately embraced the truth, and others are examining. It is with the tenderest feelings of Christian affection that we think of our brethren in these two places who have passed through severe trials; but out of them all the Lord has and will deliver them. Praise his name. W.