Communication from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 26, 1857

Communication from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—I am constrained to believe that it is my duty to say a few words to you through the Review. I have been silent altogether too long.

About the first of last October I moved from Rochester, N. Y., to Wawkon, Iowa. My intention was not, however, to move away from the work of God; but I intended to spend most of the Winter in striving to get the truth before the people; and I thought in the Summer season I should labor and sustain myself, and hold meetings Sabbaths and First-days, as the way opened. This manner of laboring in the cause of God I had ever been opposed to, until it came to my own case. I often compared it (when speaking of those who were thus laboring) to a horse fastened in a pasture with a rope; he can go just to the end of his rope and no further. So those who labor for themselves through the week, and in the cause of the Lord Sabbaths and First-days, are limited to a circle; they can go no further than so far; if they do they cannot get back to have the whole of their time to themselves. I believe now if the Lord calls us into his work, he calls us to be his servants, and our time should be wholly given to him.

When I arrived in Iowa, I found things different from what I had planned. Those of the brethren who had moved there, were all in debt. I had used up my means in getting there; a cold Winter was before me, and I saw no other way for me than to labor with my hands. I commenced working at joiner work, thinking I would earn something to support my family, and then start out and labor in the cause. I felt sad as I commenced my work, whenever I thought of the suffering cause of God. Worldly prospects brightened up before me, and ere I was aware my heart was reaching out after a treasure here. My affections began to get hold of this world, and I began to lose my interest in the Review, to lose my love for the brethren and the cause of God. At times when about my work, solemn convictions of my duty would roll upon me, and it would then seem to me that I must throw my whole energies into the cause of God, or die. I struggled against my convictions, and they became less and less. I would promise myself that by and by I would labor in the cause of God.

When the testimony first began to appear in the Review on the Laodicean church, I thought it described my condition. As I read, the Spirit of the Lord touched my heart a little, but I with others soon struck against it. About three weeks before Bro. and Sr. White made their visit to Wawkon, we began to feel that we were in a low state, and began to cry to the Lord to work for us. I believe the Lord answered, and sent his own servants to accomplish his work for us. The result of this meeting has been thus far already published in the Review. The Lord set home the testimony to the Laodiceans by his Spirit upon our hearts. It seems to me that the Lord's Spirit would not thus accompany a testimony that was untrue. Brethren, I believe it is true that we are the Laodicean church. The exhortation is to us, to "be zealous and repent." I was found "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." I would here say to those brethren among whom I have labored in the past, I feel that I have lacked zeal in the cause of God. My example has not been what it should. I have suffered myself to talk too much of things of this world. I have not had that sobriety at all times that becomes those holding such solemn truths as we believe at the present time. I am now striving to heed the counsel of the true Witness, and buy gold, white raiment and eye-salve. I see by the language of this message that we are brought to decisive moments. It will now be with us, rise or fall. We can either "be zealous and repent," or be "spued out" of the mouth of Jesus. If we still remain in a lukewarm and indifferent state, he will not confess our names before the Father in this judgment work that is upon us.

Dear brethren, as we desire salvation, let us be entreated to arise. We can do it, not in our own strength; but Jesus proffers to help us. He wants to help us. He is knocking at the door of our hearts for us to let him in, so that he can help us. What a scene is here! Jesus, powerful and lovely, majestic and glorious, mighty to save, knocks for admittance. Who? He that left the realms of glory and died for you, and died for me that we might live. What wondrous love! He was tempted as we are, he can feel for us, he wants to save us. He wants to fit us for glory, and take us to dwell with him. What condescension! We have slighted his mercy, wounded his heart, pierced his side afresh, but yet he stands knocking. Why don't you let him in? He is about to leave you, and who will be to blame but you if he should? He has knocked, but you have said in your heart, By and by, but I must attend to this thing or that now. But, sir, he is knocking for the last time, he is about turning away. O don't let him go away! Open your heart and let him in. Leave the trifles of earth. They will avail you nothing in the day of wrath. Will we not let his earnest entreaties touch our hearts? Come in, blessed Saviour, is the response of my heart.

We, brethren, have struggled on in our own strength to overcome. I say in our own strength, for we have not overcome. If we had strove all this time in the name of Jesus, should we not have made more progress? It seems to me, had we enjoyed his salvation in our souls, we had not wandered thus away from God. Faith overcomes the world. We have lacked it. Jesus has beheld our lost condition without him. He has cast a pitying look towards us. He proffers anew to come in and help us to overcome. Our only hope of salvation is to open the door of our hearts and let the Saviour in. Let us be entreated to do it. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. Round Grove, Ills., Feb. 17th, 1857.