Letters from Bro. Cottrell.
By Editor
We have received several interesting letters from Bro. Cottrell from which the following will be of interest. Under date of Nov. 26, he writes as follows: BRO. SMITH: I wish to say, for the encouragement of the children of God, that the church in this place are enjoying some tokens of Divine favor. For months past it has seemed that the Lord's heritage, in this place, was given up to reproach, and the heathen have had occasion to say, Where is their God. In view of these things, we have tried to humble ourselves, and with fasting and prayer seek to God for aid. We feared that some with whom we had taken counsel, and had gone to the house of God in company, had gone so far astray, that they never would return to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls. But blessed be the Lord! the prospect brightens. Last evening we had a church meeting, and the sweet Spirit of the Lord was with us. It was not a meeting where every one was disposed to vindicate his own righteousness; but all seemed willing to take their share of blame, and freely to confess their faults one to another, and pray one for another that we may be healed. To God be all the praise! and may we be thoroughly healed, and may we be enabled so to live in the future, that we may wipe away the reproach that has been brought upon the precious cause of truth. The Lord has rebuked us; it is a token of his love. "As many as I love I rebuke and chasten," says Christ to the Laodicean church, "be zealous therefore and rebent." We acknowledge the justice of the rebuke, and hope that the chastening may be so improved, that it may yield to us the peacable fruits of righteousness. R. F. C.