Encouragement for Believers
By Burt Hall
BRO. SMITH:—I still love the truth and am trying to keep all the Commandments of God and have the Faith of Jesus. O what a kind and merciful Father we have, in whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning; one who cares for his children, and is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And what did his Son say when he came? He said, Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and he will come again and receive us unto himself, that where he is we may be also. O how I long to be where my blessed Saviour is, and be free from this vain world of sin and sorrow. O when shall we be free! when shall we be delivered from the power of sin and Satan! O brethren, we are not in darkness, we are not without hope in the world. Jesus has promised to deliver all who trust in him. Let us trust in him and he will deliver to the uttermost. I would say a word of encouragement to those who have labored with us in Shelby. Your labor has not been in vain. There has been, and still is, a general interest on the part of the church for the truth. We are all striving to overcome and get ready to meet our Saviour. Let us all wake up and gird on the whole armor, and have our lamps trimmed and burning, and be as men waiting for our Lord when he shall return from the wedding. From your unworthy brother, hoping for a glorious immortality at the appearing of our Saviour. BURT HALL. Shelby, Mich., July 5th, 1856.