COMMUNICATIONS by Rebeckah Smith

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 19, 1857

COMMUNICATIONS.

By Rebeckah Smith

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."

From Sister Smith.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—I love to read letters, and why should I withhold? I have thought when reading selected pieces, that there ought to be more original matter. But if every one should do as I have done, none would be benefited by communications from each other. I have felt too much restraint, but will try and feel as though I were conversing personally with you.

I have, with others, been in a lukewarm state. Before I heard about our being in the Laodicean state of the church, in a meeting at West Wilton about the last of last August I think, I said, We have resolved and re-resolved, and are making no progress in holiness. I can live so no longer. The axe is laid at the root of the tree, and I feel that the precious are going to be separated from the vile. The saints must go free, having no dead weights.

I felt some different after this meeting; but still my will was not subdued. My trials had been peculiar, and, I felt at times, severe. A train of providential circumstances made it necessary for me to leave, last Spring, the dearest spot on earth to me. My feelings on leaving the place where I last saw in life my entire family, are expressed in the following lines:

This dear lone room, a sacred place— Here friends have met in love's embrace; Here too have died the loved and dear; The circle first was broken here.

The lonely hearth, the vacant chair, But tell the father is not there. The only daughter, loved and true, Here bid earth's scenes a last adieu.

I love here to recall the past, And mourn o'er joys too bright to last. In fancy's vision here I see Those forms so loved, so dear to me.

My afflictions were just. It was wrong for me to be unreconciled. The 26th of last Oct., I was enabled to give up my own will. Victory was gained, and love and union restored. The next morning I left for Princeton, Mass., expecting to return within two weeks. The 7th of Nov., I felt it duty to go to Springfield, Mass. A special providence opened the way for me to go from there to Cavendish, Vt., where I have a sister I had not seen for many years. The 3d of Dec. I came to Claremont, N. H., the 6th to Unity.

The 10th I called on Bro. Stephen Smith's family. Did not find so much opposition as I expected. The 22d I went to Washington. But instead of going on to Wilton, as I would, in a worldly point of view, very gladly have done, I returned the 26th to Unity. Under the labors of Brn. Barr and Phillips, I heard Bro. Smith profess his determination to walk again with the church. Praised be the Lord for what he is doing for that family! I believe there are others there whom Jesus has wanted to save. How long he will wait and plead his blood with the Father is known in heaven. I believe we may know when further labor is of no use. The Spirit will not always strive. We believe God is doing his work for individuals for the last time. If the Spirit leaves now, we have reason to believe it leaves to return no more, and that cases are having their final decision. I have parted with parents, brother and sister, husband and daughter; but this is but a feather's weight in comparison with one's suffering the second death. O who can realize this, and not feel the importance of doing all that can be done to have souls saved? I never felt so little anxiety about my life, health, and every thing that pertains to this world as now. My reputation and my all are with the Lord.

From the 10th of Jan. to Feb. 9th, not many shades of darkness or shadows of doubt passed my mind. I was most of the time in the sunlight of heaven. God's glory was in me, and I felt a right to shout glory, glory to God! I often said, This may be preparatory to great suffering. But this was nothing to me while I could feel nothing but glory. I believed God would take care of me when the suffering came. I do find him a present help in time of need.

The 27th of Dec. individuals seemed before me, with the impression that I must write and warn them of coming events. I was favored with a retired place where I could engage in this duty with less interruptions than at my residence, where company and other hindrances must be met. If feelings are injured by any thing I have written, it has been undesignedly. Forgive as you would be forgiven. The Judge standeth at the door. Every wrong must be righted. Every sin must be repented of and forsaken. O let us see to it that all is well between us and God.

It matters but little what is said or thought of us, if we have a conscience void of offense, and the testimony that our ways please God. Those who cannot bear reproach, though it may seem severe, out of place and uncalled for, we have reason to fear will not be able to stand in the great day when God ariseth to shake terribly the earth. The precious are being separated from the vile, the rebels must be purged out, and those who are used as instruments in doing this, though wise as serpents and harmless as doves, will not escape reproach.

Strange trials and dark providences will be among us to develop character. If there is covetousness in the heart, and an unwillingness to do and suffer for the cause of Christ, it must, and will, be made manifest. Every secret thing is being brought into judgment, and fearful indeed are the consequences awaiting those who do not sacrifice and lay all upon the altar. God will have those in his work who are willing to sacrifice ease, worldly enjoyment, and the common necessaries of life. By much fasting and prayer his work must be accomplished. It will be enough for us to rest when it is closed up.

Four in Claremont profess to keep the Sabbath. There are many who profess to believe the Lord is soon coming. If we are to be sanctified through the belief of the present truth, and nothing can be done effectually out of the present message, how important that the truth be proclaimed, and all the light held up while there are any to receive it. May we heed the word which is a light to our feet and a lamp to our path, and move right in all our ways.

REBECKAH SMITH.

Claremont, N. H., Mar. 2d, 1857.

P. S. My correspondents may address me at West Wilton, N. H. R. S.