Bro. Chapel, of Palermo, writes:—"I am certain that the church need something to stir them up, for certainly a spirit of lethargy has prevailed, and I think the love of many has waxed cold; but I think the time has come when God's people should be awake and have on the whole armor, and striving to be ready for the day of the Lord which hasteth greatly. I am sure did we as a church realize the importance of the truth, and the time in which we are living, we should be getting ready by doing all in our power for the spread of the truth, and for the salvation of souls.
"The Lord has shown his willingness to work for his people and to gather them together, and we find Satan as ready to separate and divide them. O when will the time come when the church will be one even as Christ and his Father are one. My prayer is that God will help his children to strive for that oneness of heart and feeling that characterize the true children of God. The Apostle says though he gives his goods to feed the poor, or body to be burned, &c., and has not charity, it is nothing, or will avail him nothing. As charity is in substance love, how necessary that we strive for, and cultivate pure love toward God and his people. Jesus says, This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John xv, 12, 13. Who of us have got that love that we would be willing to sacrifice our lives for the brethren. If we do not possess it we have not the love that Jesus had.
"When I contemplate the great love that Jesus had, to leave the realms of glory with all its splendor and all the glittering hosts of heaven, and come to earth to be buffeted and scoffed at, and finally to be crucified for poor fallen man, I am led to cry out, How far short I come from having that love which Jesus had; but I mean to cultivate that spirit of love that will enable me to love God with all my heart and my neighbor as myself; as that is the love we shall all be obliged to have to fit us for the kingdom of God; for there will be nothing there but pure love. I am glad you are in a measure free, and that your health and Bro. White's is restored. How thankful we ought to be to our heavenly Father for all his goodness to us, unworthy creatures. God is good, and his mercy endureth for ever."