DEAR BRO. WHITE :—I feel it to be a great privilege to address a few lines to my dear brethren and sisters, many of whom we never expect to see until, if faithful, we meet around our Father's throne.
While on our journey here we called on some of our brethren and sisters who expressed a desire to hear from us. Their cheerful countenances and earnest prayers will long be remembered by us; and the thought that we soon shall meet where parting is unknown, causes us to lift up our heads and rejoice.—We are living in a place where there is very little of vital godliness, and where the light of truth is scarcely seen; though there are a few, like the noble Bereans, who are willing to search and see if these things are so.
Amidst the darkness we see a bright light and are trying to draw ourselves nearer to it; and we feel that our house has been like the house of Obededom; that we and all that are in our house have been blest. Praise the Lord!
Our experience in the Advent doctrine has been short; but we believe as fast as we understand, and we are determined to make sure work for eternity, and never give up until we win the prize, and enter the glorious City. There are none here that love the glorious doctrine of our Saviour's soon coming; but I firmly believe it, and am growing stronger though we have no preaching, only the Bible and what we get from that valuable paper, the Review.
My whole soul feels like praising God that I was ever permitted, even in this eleventh hour, to hear the blessed, present truth, and that he gave me a heart to receive it. I can say with the Psalmist, of old, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." I believe it is the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus that will draw the dividing line; and already do we see the division taking place; and the work will go on until every honest soul will see the truth, and come out and stand upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
I feel to praise God that the time is nearing, when all who do keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will enter through the pearly gates into the holy city, and have right to the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. Add to all this, that our heavenly Father shall himself wipe away all tears from our eyes, and then there will be no more sorrow nor crying, nor pain, nor death! O praise the Lord for the hope of being there. I feel that there are no charms on earth, strong enough to bind me down; but I mean to be ready when Christ comes.
Your Sister, striving for the Kingdom,
CORNELIA AYRES.
Shiloh, Cumberland Co., N. J., Oct. 1853.