p. 101 | Letter from Bro. Stone by Albert Stone

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 29, 1857

Letter from Bro. Stone.

By Albert Stone

BRO. SMITH: Permit me, through the Review, to say a word to the remnant of the people of God, scattered abroad. And in the first place, I feel it my duty to confess that I have not spoken to them through the Review, as often as I should have done. By the grace of God I will try to be more faithful in this respect in time to come. I confess that I have been too much under the influence of a worldly, Laodicean state of mind, disqualified for the acceptable performance of the duties of our holy calling; that I have had too little power to prevail with God, to keep my heart, and to watch against sin. I confess that I have, for many years, till within a few months past, been in the habitual use of tobacco, which I now feel determined to abandon forever, as I now see its use to be prejudicial to my spiritual interests.

On account of all my sins I feel to repent and humble myself before the Lord, and to wake up and gird on the armor anew.

In behalf of the little church in this place I would say, that we have taken a position upon these two great principles upon which God is now accomplishing the work of gathering the remnant of his people, that they may be prepared for the momentary change to immortality when the Lord shall come; viz., the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ, earnestly desiring and fervently praying, that God will so lighten up, with the torch of truth, the narrow pathway that leads to mount Zion, that we shall be enabled to meet the sanctified host there, in the day of the Lord.

For a few months past we have passed through a great diversity of scenes. We have been called to take hold of the reins of discipline, by which some trials have been removed, the erring have been corrected, and disorderly walkers excluded. At the same time there has been among us, a spirit of confession. The Lord seems to have laid upon each individual the burden of his own sins. Much time has been spent in our church meetings, and Sabbath meetings, in the confession of faults, and thus, while confessing, praying and weeping together, our stony hearts have been melted, and seemed to run together like two drops of water, and confidence and brotherly love have been revived among us. Praised be the name of the Lord!

I cannot close this communication without expressing my approval of the view that what is written to the angel of the church in Laodicea [Rev. iii, 14-22] has its application to the remnant at the present time. The arguments that have been presented seem to me to be quite conclusive. And besides, the fitness of the application seems to add much strength to the argument.

The instruction to the Laodicean church involves the most solemn and awful responsibility to those to whom it is addressed. It may be proper for each one to inquire, Does the unfolding of this scripture at the present time, indicate anything in regard to the progress of the work of our great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary? Does it indicate that judgment is now immediately to pass upon the living saints? To me these are important questions.

Dear brethren and sisters, let us all arise and heed the counsel of the true Witness. Let us know our poverty, blindness, and misery. Let us heed the voice of him who "stands at the door and knocks." Let us open the door and let the Saviour into the church, and into our hearts.

We have talked much of the Commandments of God, and the Testimony of Jesus Christ, but we have had too little of Christ in our hearts. Let us open the door, and he will come into our hearts, and into the church, and when he comes into the church, the gifts will be fully restored, the lame will walk, the blind will see, the Third Angel's Message will go with a loud voice, the dragon's wrath will be manifested, the church will be perfected, and Jesus will come personally and take her to himself, that where he is there his people may be also.

ALBERT STONE.

Eden, Vt., Jan. 19th, 1857.