Gathering the Scattered Flock
By Joseph Bates
Dear Bro. White: The Great God of Israel, is now gathering his people to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. The little flock are rising, and increasing, while the professed leading advent papers and leaders are advocating the no-law, no-commandment system; exerting themselves to exterminate from the earth the everlasting covenant, how strange it is that they do not see the influence it produces in their midst. If they were to take a starting point, even from the commencement of the year 1851, and read only from their own pamphlets and papers, the division and sub-divisions that have taken place and are continually taking place among them, (See for one, "Advent Harbinger," March 8th, 1851,) surely they must see that their adopted no-law of God system will as evidently lead them all to destruction, as it would the people of these United States were they to abolish and tread down their constitution on which the law (and order) of every State depends. How can justice be executed when no law exists? Let the Psalmist explain. "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne." lxxxix, 14. Since the general Conference at Ballston N. Y., in March, I have been laboring in Massachusetts and Maine to gather in the scattered flock of the house of Israel, who are coming up under the whole testimony of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, as given in the third angel's message. Our meetings in Boston and vicinity were attended with the divine blessing. Since April 2d I have held Conferences in Portland, Paris, Bangor and Bradford Center, Me., in all of which places the Lord has made manifest his increasing light, strengthened his people, added to their numbers such as I trust will be saved. At the close of our meeting here last evening while attending to the solemn ordinance of the Lord's supper, a father dropped upon his knees, and asked forgiveness of God, and all present for his short coming, and said he would keep the Sabbath of the Lord.—His son, and his wife, also, declared their intention to do the same. Thus the Lord our God is bringing in the honest ones. I expect to visit other places before I return to Massachusetts. I suppose you are very much engaged just now establishing the printing-press, and adjusting things around you to send forth the "Review and Herald" again to the little flock. We hope you will be successful in your efforts to establish this part of the work in your mind, so that there shall be one printing establishment in all the land, of which it may be said, they rest the Sabbath-day according to the commandment. Luke xxiii, 56. May the united prayers of the little flock, who are settled, and forever established in the great Rest-day of the Lord our God, continue to ascend the Holy Hill of Zion, for grace and wisdom from the Holiest, to enable you, and all that are conscientiously engaged with you in this establishment, in sending forth the great and glorious truths of the present message to all that have ears to hear, and hearts to feel. That the sons and daughters of the Almighty may be seen coming from every quarter, to plant themselves under the royal standard of the Prince of Peace, whom God has raised up through the blood of the everlasting covenant, and is now offering to all, that will voluntarily enlist under his banner, the glorious reward of the purchase of his blood, viz: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. xxii, 14. Joseph Bates.
Bradford Center, Me., April 22d, 1852.