p. 79 | Extracts from Letters by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 24, 1860

Extracts from Letters.

By Editor

Sister S. McPheeter writes from Knoxville, Iowa: "For the first time I will try to say a few words through the Review to the brethren and sisters in the Lord. I am trying to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I have found that there is much to do to live a Christian life. I have many things to overcome. It keeps me all the time watching and praying that I may be delivered from temptation. I can truly say that I am glad that I have heard the third message, and had a disposition to lay hold upon it. I am glad the Lord has sent the light this way, and I am determined by the assisting grace of God to walk therein."

Note.—We are glad to see those continually coming up, and bearing testimony to the truth who can testify that it is "for the first time." We trust that there are many accessions soon to be made to the ranks of such, of those who can feelingly acknowledge their gratitude to God for giving yet another call of mercy to an indifferent world; who can say that their affections, purposes and desires have been turned into a new channel; that what they once neglected or despised, they now love; and that in the man of sorrows in whom they could once see no comeliness nor beauty, they now behold the supreme object of their love and admiration.

We can all say with the writer of the above, that it takes all our time to watch against danger and temptation; and whenever we reach a time when we think we may safely lay down our watch, and throw off our armor, we may be sure there is something wrong.—Ed.

Sister E. W. Ballenger writes from Oneco, Ills., July 4, 1860: "Bro. Smith, while the most of the people of this neighborhood are off celebrating the 4th, I thought I would spend a little while in telling of the goodness of God in showing me that I was breaking God's holy law, and giving me courage to face the world and keep the Sabbath of the Lord. It is a year to-day since my husband and myself joined the few that are preparing to meet the Saviour. I feel thankful to my kind heavenly Father for the light that is shining upon his word. When Brn. Ingraham and Sanborn pitched the tent in Oneco, I was prejudiced against them, but as soon as I heard them preach my prejudice all gave way; for I found that they preached Bible truth, and said nothing but what they could prove by the Bible.

"There are none here but my husband and myself who are really settled on all the points of present truth; but there are a great many who say that we have more truth than any other denomination in the world; and some are satisfied that we are right, but lack the courage to act. I feel very lonely at times since my husband went with Bro. Ingraham to Minnesota; for I am debarred from meeting to worship God with those of like faith; but I try to worship him at home, and feel like girding on my armor anew. I am determined with God's assistance to stand with the remnant on Mt. Zion. Be faithful brethren and sisters, and so may we all gain that heavenly home where there will be no more lonely pilgrims, and no more partings."

Note. A very appropriate time, sister, for you to declare your own independence, on the anniversary of the independence of this nation. For what more noble declaration of independence can a person make than when he declares his determination to live no longer under the thraldom of sin? and what more real liberty can a person enjoy than when by obedience he takes himself out from under the law? Says the Psalmist, "I will walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts." This is an independence that is worth celebrating. The independence of a nation leads to luxury, corruption and decay; but this independence of the soul, will soon result in the glorious liberty of the sons of God, when we shall experience the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body. Rom. viii, 21-23.—Ed.

Sister C. Lawton writes from West Winfield, N. Y.: "I have been feeling for some time past that we as a people are living far beneath our privilege. There are exceeding great and precious promises in the word of God for his people. It is our privilege, and what a glorious privilege, to come up on higher ground, to arrive to higher attainments in the divine life, to get where we can by living, active faith claim these precious promises as ours. Oh why is it we do not without delay come up on this high and holy ground? Dear brethren and sisters let us ask ourselves the question, Why is it? and may the Holy Spirit in a very clear and forcible manner, bring home the answer to every heart.

Why are we not all we profess to be? If we lived out our faith how soon we should find ourselves on primitive ground. I believe nothing short of entire consecration will be acceptable to God. Oh shall we keep back any part of the price? Shall we for a moment hold anything dearer to our hearts than the favor of God. Thank God I can say there is nothing I prize so highly as the approbation of my heavenly Father. I can say with the poet,

"I want the witness Lord That all I do is right; According to thy will and word, Well pleasing in thy sight."

And yet how often I have to mourn over my many failings. O how it grieves me when I am overcome by temptation and yield to an impatient spirit, or through unwatchfulness or want of wisdom in my daily walk and conversation fail to live as one should that is looking for the coming of our Saviour, or to be fitted for translation. Oh how much we need a full baptism of the Spirit, that we may fully live out our profession. Surely our walk should be close with God. We should be living epistles known and read of all. We make a higher profession than any other people; if we believe what we profess, the life we live should be one of perfect devotion, and marked with the strictest consistency. We have come out of Babylon that we should not partake of her sins and receive of her plagues.

"As a sister wrote in a late Review, 'One of the greatest sins of the fallen churches is pride.' Then if we indulge in this sin, either by putting on vain or costly apparel, needless trimmings or ornaments in any way to gratify pride, we are partaking of her sins. Do we not if we indulge in this sin or in any other occupy a fearful position? We stand in danger of being spued out and left to receive of the plagues. We are injuring the cause of God and preventing others from receiving the truth. They will say we are not honest in our profession. Our life does not correspond with our faith, and that we are not any better than others. I believe this work is of God; that he is gathering his jewels, and he will fit them for translation, and those who go through will have to cut loose soon from the world and all indulgences that are not for their good and the glory of God, or they will soon be left of God and good angels. Let us put forth one united effort to come up to the standard fully. When the church does come up in faith and practice one shall be able to chase a thousand, two put ten thousand to flight. I hope I shall have the prayers of the church that I may be a perfect overcomer and with them dwell in the city of God."

Bro. Wm. Russell writes from Mauston, Wis.: I resume my pen at this time to let the dear saints know how we are getting along at Mauston as it may be cheering to some if not all. The church here had been in a state of darkness, and sore trial for several months, and it seemed almost as though Satan would get the upper hands, as many quit the field discouraged. But I praise the Lord that there were a few here that walked by faith, notwithstanding the darkness. In this way we groped our way along till after the Mackford conference when it seemed to be the Lord's good time to visit his people. Bro and sister Steward returned from this conference filled with the Spirit and with a special message on the subject of holiness. Some of us had long been praying and struggling for this blessed state, but it seemed as though God would not give us any evidence that we did experience this precious gift. But some of us have since found that we were trying to do too much ourselves. We were trying to carry our own burdens; but when we came to the point where we were willing to cast our burdens upon the Saviour, give all into the hands of our blessed heavenly Father, we received that peace the world knows not of. Let me say to all that are struggling to be free, Give yourselves and all you have right up into the hands of the Lord. Let him take your burdens and you will experience a great blessing in so doing.

May the Lord bless all that are engaged in this glorious message, and may their labors be blessed to the salvation of many souls. Yesterday (Sabbath) we had a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. As one sister remarked, it seemed as though we were on holy ground. There was an elderly lady there who had been a soldier in the Methodists ranks for about thirty-one years, but has been starving since the declension of that church. She was filled with the Spirit of the Lord which added much to the good of the meeting. O may the Lord bless her and lead her into all truth. She has heretofore been much opposed but said yesterday it seemed like old times when she enjoyed the power of religion. It was truly good to be in the Spirit on the Lord's day. The church here is on the rise. May the Lord carry on his work is my prayer."

Bro. M. J. Bartholf writes from Whitewater Wis.: "The Lord has been very good towards me of late whereof I am glad. He has given me my companion as a co-worker with me to gain the glorious inheritance of the earth made new. I have been about five years in this vicinity with none of like faith nearer than some nine miles. All this time I have been striving to be called by our Lord a repairer of the breach. Isa. lviii, 12, 13. I often said to the Lord, As for me I will serve thee, by making up the breach; but the Lord has changed my cry by adding to me my house:

"We will serve God. To him be all the glory. I hope that this cry may never be changed; that we may set such examples before our children, and so present their cause to the Lord that the mighty hand of God will rescue them from those disobedient children brought to view in Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy, chapter iii. May they early become reconciled to God by giving their hearts wholly to him. How much many Sabbath keepers need a reform on this subject. What a clog they are to their parents, and a shame to every beholder. May the Lord help us to pay more attention to this subject.

"We have much more to rejoice in. The Lord sent Bro. Sanborn this way some five months ago, who proclaimed the three messages. The result that attended the announcement of it at Little Prairie was cheering. It was pleasant to see so goodly a number embracing the truth. They are now rejoicing in it. May the Lord ever keep them in the love of it, while they manifest their love one towards another by keeping all his commandments. Little Prairie is some eight or ten miles from this place. We usually attend their Sabbath meetings, and usually hear from twenty-five to forty testimonies given. Besides the good Spirit of the Lord is there which is best of all. May they ever live so as to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace."

"P. S. I would invite the messengers that chance this way to call as oft as convenient. We want the privilege of rendering refreshment to them and also of aiding them on their way in their labors of love."