COMMUNICATIONS by S. W. Rhodes

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 8, 1857

COMMUNICATIONS.

By S. W. Rhodes

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one toanother."

From Bro. Rhodes.

BRO. SMITH: I would say to the church, I confess my wrong in keeping silent as long as I have. I have become weak by neglecting to do my duty in speaking often to the scattered saints. The pride of my heart has hindered me from using my one talent as I should. I have often purposed to speak a few words through the Review to let my brethren know of the dealings of the Lord toward me.

I have shrunk on account of my poor abilities and have felt condemnation follow. It has been in my heart to obey God, and to lift up my voice like a trumpet, to cry aloud and spare not, but I have failed in all my attempts to glorify God. I have been waiting to find something to say that would be more encouraging to my brethren, and favorable to the cause of my Master. But I am satisfied it will not do for me to remain silent any longer, if I shall be compelled (by circumstances) to speak to the mortification of self and the flesh.

I am sensible that I have been an unprofitable servant for years that are past. Slow to see my faults, and receive discipline, slow to confess wrongs, and too great a lack of zeal in my efforts to reform. Notwithstanding my imperfections, the Lord has graciously borne with, and wrought for me, that my inmost soul might be converted to him. I give thanks and praise to God for the sure evidences I have that he still loves and works for his unworthy servant. Though I have been too far upon the background, I have not ceased to labor in his vineyard with fasting and tears. I have not been, neither am I now, satisfied with my past feeble efforts in the cause of God. I mourn when I look at the little fruit resulting from my faint efforts to do good. I am resolved in Jesus' name to arise and put on strength and gird myself anew with the whole armor of God to fight in this glorious conflict till the battle shall be pushed to the gate.

For over two years I have been slowly improving in health, and strength of spirit. I praise the Lord again for his long-suffering and patience toward me. I would here acknowledge with a grateful heart the compassion of the Lord toward me last Spring at the Battle Creek Conference in comforting and greatly encouraging my soul to hope in him to go forward in his cause and service. From that time a good work commenced among the saints in Oswego Co., and has progressed to the present, and will, no doubt, continue so long as we humbly serve God, and afflict our souls with fasting.

Our progress has been slow, for we still find ourselves lukewarm, but resolved by God's grace to arise and come into the clear sunshine of the glory of the angel of the Lord. Rev. xviii, 1.

I have but a few weeks since returned from a tour of ten or twelve weeks, through Northern N. Y. and Vt., and am well satisfied with good evidence that the Lord approbates the journey. The Lord signally wrought for his people in Vt. by his Spirit that accompanied the plain testimonies of his servants.

The conference in Wolcott, Eden, and Johnson continued five days under the influence of the peaceable Spirit of Christ. All hearts were touched by the Spirit and much broken. "The accuser of our brethren" found no place in our midst. All appeared to be anxious to know and confess their individual faults, that their sins might go to judgment beforehand, and not appear against us when Christ shall cease to be an Intercessor.

My heart was made to rejoice in seeing and hearing from those way-worn pilgrims whom I had not seen for several years. I trust I shall not soon forget the great things the Lord did for us during the meeting.

All manifested a willingness and strong desire to follow the Third Angel and to suffer with the people of God.

The meetings in Northern N. Y. on our return (Bro. Sperry and self) were crowned with good results. The Lord gave us many broken hearted seasons while praying and confessing, and resolving to buy gold, &c. All (one excepted) were anxious still to travel on toward the Holy Land.

Evidently the Lord is stirring his people to seek meekness and righteousness, that they may be hid in the day of his fierce anger. May the Lord save us from again settling upon our lees.

I have scarcely heard a dissenting voice to the testimony which shows the Laodicean Sabbath keepers to be in a lukewarm state. The burden of my soul to the church is, be zealous and repent, (reform). I am sure that if we would receive the rich treasure offered to the Laodiceans [Rev. iii, 18,] we must reform in our works which alone can make our faith acceptable to God. Evidently, our former prayers, sacrifices, labors, and manner of life, &c, have not been pleasing to God, else we should not have become lukewarm and our salvation so greatly endangered.

I would join with all my brethren and sisters in praying more and more ardently than we have, and in doubling our sacrifices to God, in fasting often in labors more abundant, in observing the Sabbath more holy and keeping all the commandments more strictly, and in reproving, rebuking and exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching.

May love, and peace, and joy, be multiplied to all the saints that are in Christ Jesus.

S. W. RHODES.