COMMUNICATIONS by S. B. Warren

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Jun 12, 1855

COMMUNICATIONS.

By S. B. Warren

From Bro. Warren.

DEAR BRO. WHITE:—If what little I may add to the cause of truth, though ever so feeble, will encourage a brother or sister, it shall be freely given. I am most certainly encouraged by reading the letters in the Review from brethren and sisters of like precious faith. To hear from so many different ones of their prospects, their resolutions and determinations, is certainly cheering to my heart. I would say through the Review that I think I am growing stronger and stronger in the present truth.

The pure Bible truth that was proclaimed to us here at our last conference has established me in the position that we as a little, remnant church now occupy. I think I can safely say the time has come when true commandment-keepers should be settling down upon the solid rock of truth. They should be getting rooted and grounded in the faith, established in the blessed truths of the Bible. Here come to my mind the words of Moses, found in Deut. xxxii, 31. "For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges." Our enemies and the enemies of truth are certainly multiplying all around us in proportion to our zeal and faithfulness in God's cause. I have no doubt in the least but that in every community there are honest souls who have an ear to hear and a willing mind to obey; but yet the great mass and majority of mankind and of the

church are resolved not to hear the truth, receive the light, or obey the word. We have been permitted to witness here of late in Battle Creek a perfect exhibition of the rejection and hatred of God's own precious truth. I was one of a committee that called upon Eld. C——, of the Methodist Church to obtain their house for the lectures of Brn. White and Hall, upon days of the week when they were not to occupy it themselves; but so soon as he learned that we were a people that kept the seventh day or Bible Sabbath and that we believed in the speedy, second, personal coming of Jesus Christ, and in immortality alone through him he told me plainly that we could not have his pulpit to disseminate such doctrines in. He furthermore told me that our preachers and people were sowing the seeds of spiritual death, strife and discord throughout the length and breadth of the land. I pledged to him my word that those brethren would present nothing in his pulpit but pure Bible truth; but said he, 'so the Mormons say, 'I'll present the truth,' and I look upon you as a poor, deluded, fanatical, bewildered, set, making more infidels in the world than all the rest of the churches put together.' So I turned away from him feeling sorry in my heart that one of God's professed Shepherds should be so blind, so willfully blind as to hedge up the way to the kingdom, neither willing to go in himself or allowing others to enter. This professed minister of Jesus Christ said many hard, bitter things against those who keep the Bible Sabbath and are looking for and loving the appearing of the Saviour; but I trust in the name of the Lord we have cleared our skirts, for we have put forth every possible effort that we consistently could to get the truth before this community, but in almost every instance have they rejected God's own precious truth; and yet notwithstanding all this we believe there are some honest souls here that will yet listen to the last warning voice, come out of Babylon, embrace the truth and keep the commandments.

Thanks be to the God of heaven, we are not by any means a forsaken people. God is still leading us. The promises are sure to those who keep the commandments. God will take care of his own little flock; and though the flock may seem to be scattered, one here and another there, yet God's eye is upon his own precious jewels who feed by faith upon the words of truth, and whose delight is in the keeping of his law. If we love and heed the messenger of falsehood and slander more than we love and heed the messenger of truth and righteousness, we shall be brought under the influence and within the grasp of the enemy, "who goeth about seeking whom he may devour." Acts xx, 29, 30. St. Paul said; "For I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them." O that God would help us to watch, and though the world and a proud church are joined hand in hand to oppose the pure Bible truth, yet truth will finally triumph, though there be but few to proclaim it, and few to embrace it.

Brethren and sisters, we should not only be keeping all of God's commandments, but we should be seeking for the faith of Jesus. We should be holding on, with an unyielding grasp, to the precious promises of the Gospel. O what strong, living faith we shall need to meet the opposition of a wicked world of dark spirits that constantly surround us. As we come down still nearer to the closing up scene, our prayers must be more frequent and fervent, our faith still stronger in God, we become more interested in the truth, and our desire to be holy and pure, constantly increasing. I have great reason to rejoice and praise God that his spirit ever strove with me and inclined me to hear the third angel's message and to embrace and try to keep the commandments. As I look back upon my past life I can remember the many sermons I have heard in which the commandments of God have been pointed out, and I was instructed to observe and keep them; but I now see in what a blind way and through what mist and fog I have been led and taught to keep the commandments. O how unlike the teaching of God's law under the third angel's message. We should feel very grateful to God who has led us out of darkness into light, and permitted us to throw away the errors and corrupt teachings of past days, and see the light of present truth, and place our feet upon the solid rock. Praise the Lord, it is not a matter of guess so, or may be so; we are positively sure that we have embraced the last sealing truth.

I would say to all God's true messengers who have gone out to sound the last notes of warning, be faithful to your trust, and to all that God has committed to your care. Do not falter in the least or be discouraged. The last crowning truth with which God has entrusted you, is to be proclaimed most faithfully, even though it be in the very face of the most violent opposition; but remember, dear brethren in the message, and be assured you have the ardent prayers of God's dear children. There is not a day passes over your heads but that you are remembered at the throne of grace by the few who are trying to be faithful and whose hearts beat in unison with yours. We believe with you that the third angel's message is a firm, immovable rock, and in the name of the Lord we bid you God speed. The crown lies at the end of the race. Your labors will soon end. O be faithful, trust in God, go forward, seek for pure hearts and clean hands, and you shall soon win the prize.

Your unworthy brother seeking for immortality. S. B. WARREN. Battle Creek, Mich., May 30th, 1855.