Extracts from Letters by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 6, 1856

Extracts from Letters.

By Editor

Bro. Lewis Martin writes from Bennington N. H.:—“I desire that you as well as all others who are engaged in publishing the Review may have heavenly wisdom and much of the Spirit of our Master, that the paper may prove a rich blessing to the scattered remnant. We truly live in an evil time, the enemy of souls is very busy. My heart is pained on account of the divisions that exist among those who profess to be looking for the Lord Jesus Christ soon to come in the clouds of heaven. My desire and prayer, to God is that he will soon bring his people into the one faith and one spirit.”

We heartily echo the desire which our dear brother has expressed above, that those engaged in the publication of the Review may have wisdom from above and much of the Spirit of Christ. This we continually need. Without this we cannot render acceptable service to Him in whose cause we are engaged. For this we shall daily plead at the throne of grace, and trust that others will remember us there also.—Ed.

Bro. Jonathan Chase writes from Fall River Wis.:—“When I read the doctrine the little paper (the Review) contains and compare it with the word of God, why, I ask, should I not, yea, and every child of God believe it and embrace it; and when I read the communications from the scattered flock of Commandment-keepers in these last days of peril and persecution, I rejoice: I look up knowing that my redemption draweth nigh.

“Brethren, if we are persecuted I pray that it may be falsely for Christ’s sake. We read that when our Lord was on the earth he said to his disciples, If they have persecuted me they will persecute you. The Apostle says If ye live godly in Christ Jesus, ye shall suffer persecution. If we be reviled let us not revile again, but seek that mind that was in Christ.

“There has been considerable said in regard to Sr. W’s. visions. In regard to them I have only to say that I acknowledge that I never have felt fully satisfied in regard to them; consequently have let them alone and tried not to harbor any thing against them in my feelings, lest I be found fighting against God; for I read that God has placed the different Gifts in the Church and I find no text of Scripture that he has removed them from the Church; and if God has seen fit to make use of sister White in this respect, to carry forward his work, then I can say, Amen; because if it is of man it will come to naught; but if it be of God man can not overthrow it. Let us see to it then that when our Lord shall come we be not found fighting against God.”

“Again in regard to some of our brethren, preaching on the age to come. I knew nothing of it, until after the Wis. Conference, last Fall: in fact, the first information I had of their proceedings, I saw in the ‘Messenger;’ and I was astonished. Some one may ask why so! I answer because in the last conversation that I had with them on the subject, they pronounced the ‘Messenger’ a perfect sheet of slander. But I thank God that truth will triumph, and I feel that my trust is in Israel’s God.

“I would just say that Bro. Bates has been here, and I trust has been the means by the blessing of God of strengthening the things that remain that were ready to die, I hope that God will bless his labors that many souls may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Sister Cooper writes from Bath, N. Y.:—“I for the first time write to the dear saints to tell them that my heart beats in unison with those that are keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of his dear Son. I feel more and more to praise the Lord that he ever anointed my eyes to see the truth which sanctifies and prepares us for the kingdom.

“May the Lord so unite his people in this place that they may have a mind to work and come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Truth is a unit and where there is union there is strength.”

Sister Bryan writes from Ballston Spa, N. Y.:—“It gives me great consolation to hear from brethren and sisters scattered abroad. I am trying to keep all the commandments of God, and I feel determined by the help of God to stand at my post that no one take my crown. I am alone here. My prayer is that God will send some of his ministers to this place.”

Sister Fanny Edson writes from Marquette Co., Wis.:—“All my desire is to serve my Lord and Master with all my might mind and strength. We are living in perilous times. I have many trials on this earth; but eternal life is worth all other things.”

Bro. P. Folsom writes from Somerville, Mass.:—“We are still striving for the kingdom, and the prospect brightens as we are drawing nearer the port of deliverance. I believe the hand of the Lord is in the move of establishing the paper on a firm foundation. If all move in the order of the Lord, the paper will be sustained and the cause will move forward. But when we get self woven into the work of the Lord we may soon expect to see the chariot wheels drive heavily. The Lord will go with us just as far as we go with him, and no farther; therefore it is of great importance how we move.”

Sister Almira Preston writes from Ogle Co., Ill.:—“I could hardly live without the paper. It feeds my soul daily. It is food to read the letters from the brethren and sisters and the truths that it contains. One of my neighbors requested the paper to read. I gladly sent it; and he is convinced that the seventh day is the only Sabbath; and that a man may better keep no day than keep the first day.

“The work is the Lord’s and I hope he will search this place through, and see if there are any jewels here. O that some of his children might be sent to this place to proclaim the truth. I have been here two years this Spring and have never seen an Advent believer since I came. I have never been shaken in the least since I came here. I can say, To whom shall I go, Lord? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

Bro. J. Young writes from Addison Hill, N. Y.:—“As fast as I have read the Review I have sent them to my neighbors, and they have read them and some have become convinced of the truth. They say that they speak the truth. I think if some preaching brother could lecture for us a few evenings some would come out from Babylon and from the world and keep the true Sabbath.”

Sister Phebe B. Brown writes from Madison Co., N. Y.:—“I have become convinced by reading and observation that that great and solemn day for which all other days were made draweth nigh. I am a firm believer in the Sabbath of the Lord, and trying to keep all his commandments. I have long been anxious to meet with those who I believe are trying to live out the principles of the gospel, and are preparing to hail the approach of the Son of man; but I know not that I ever shall. Yet I have a hope if I am faithful, of having a seat with those in the New Jerusalem which have come up out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Sister Demarest writes from Parma, N. Y.:—“I still feel encouraged to press my way onward and upward towards mount Zion. Although the way is thorny, yet the promise is that as our day, so shall our strength be. I feel encouraged too, because the cause is rising, and bid you God speed.”

Bro. H. W. Lawrance writes from Bangor N. Y. Feb. 11th 1856:—“I have long wanted to express through the Review my convictions that more effort should be made on the part of the church to get the truth before those who have had no opportunity to hear or read. Often in the past in my feeble efforts to spread the truth have I urged my way into new fields and had some liberty and found ears to hear; when at the same time I could not have much freedom where there were Brn. that had often heard and were somewhat confined in their efforts to advance the cause.

“I still feel as though duty called the Messengers mostly into new fields, and yet some good Brn. often express anxiety for certain ones to “come and labor among us” i.e. locate a while for our benefit, and we can assist &c. Now I am anxious to know how far my views of duty are in harmony with the great body of believers in the Third Angel’s Message. Is it not a flying message? and if so, is it not our duty to scatter abroad and preach the word every where?

“May the Lord direct the remnant and enable us to be in harmony with his plan in the closing work of mercy.”

Bro John Hall writes from Marquette Wis.:—“I am well pleased with the way the Review has been conducted since I have taken it, and the truth it advocates, and wish to add my testimony on the side of truth. There are but few Sabbath-keepers here in this place, and we are trying to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus and hope to have a right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city.”

Bro. Josiah Hebner writes from Brown’s Corners C. W. Feb. 17th, 1856:—Bro. Smith, The weekly visits of the Review are to me very acceptable. When I read the letters, I find that there are others alone as well as myself who rejoice in the Third Angel’s Message. My heart beats in unison with all the dear saints of like precious faith who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I would like to speak with some of the dear brethren or sisters face to face; but as I have not this privilege, I am thankful a medium is provided through which we may speak to each other; namely the columns of the paper.

Bro. T. B. Mead writes from Buck’s Bridge St. Law. Co. N. Y. Feb. 18th, 1856:—“I have been much interested in reading the Review, to hear of the prosperity of the cause. There is a rising among the children of the Lord. Truth is having a sanctifying effect upon their hearts. I believe still that we have the truth, and it will bear away a glorious victory. Yes, truth will prevail, and error will be detected, and come to naught.

“I often thought during the tarrying time, while hearing so many different views, one embracing this another that for truth, that I should not know the truth, when the Lord’s servants did come with it; but I am grateful to the Lord, that it was not so. I did know the voice of the good shepherd, and was enabled by the help of the Lord to follow it. How plain it made the past Advent movement. It made our present position clear and plain; and it lighted up our pathway in the future.

“I want the truth to have an abiding place in my heart, and an influence upon my life. It is a time when we should have on the whole armor. The Enemy is busy, trying to destroy the children of the Lord. We can overcome if we hold on to the arm of the Lord. The Lord is a refuge unto which we can flee and be safe, it is good to trust in him. He will lead his people to a glorious victory.”

Sister M. A. Streeter writes from Oswego Co., N. Y.:—“I have heard but one sermon on present truth since 1844, and you cannot imagine how much consolation I receive from reading the paper, and searching the Bible. It gives me much light on the sacred Scriptures. It has taught me to keep all the commandments, the fourth not excepted. I am alone in keeping the Sabbath, excepting my children. No one around me that knows or cares for the present truth, surrounded by a fallen church and a wicked world. I have great reason to praise my God for the little light he has given me, and I pray for grace sufficient for my day and trials. I ask the prayers of all the brethren and sisters.”

Bro. H. S. Stickles writes from Potter Co., Pa.:—“I am trying to make my way onward and upward in hope of the kingdom. If we do God’s will we

may expect to reign with Jesus Christ in the kingdom. When we look around and see how the world is rushing to destruction, we should look up, knowing that our redemption is nigh.”