Bro. Smith:—It is now almost two years since I have had the privilege of meeting with brethren of like precious faith, and counseling with, and receiving counsel respecting things of the kingdom. All the information that I therefore receive is through the medium of the Review, and that comes, as I believe, laden with rich truths from the word of eternal life.
I still feel to hold on to the Message of the Third Angel, believing that we are now living in the days of God's preparation and that he is doing up his last work before the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
I feel to heed the admonition of the faithful and true Witness, to buy gold tried in the fire that I may be rich, and white raiment that I may be clothed upon, and to anoint my eyes with eye-salve that I may see. I have felt for over two years that there must be a greater consecration on the part of the church than there ever has been. The standard of piety has been too low.
We as a church are publishing a paper containing the last admonition to a corrupt and fallen church, and a wicked world; and by looking over the pages of the Review, we see how illy it is sustained. When we look at the other denominations and their papers, we see they are sustained; and a small congregation will raise four or five hundred, or even a thousand, dollars, as a salary to their minister. Now this is not the case with us. Brethren, what is the matter? Are we cleaving to the world? Have we our eyes, like the fool, in the ends of earth? Are we laying up our treasure on this sin-cursed earth, which is so soon to be devoted to destruction?
O let us arise in our strength! Our Redeemer is mighty, and let us in his strength, like Joshua of old, resolve that as for us and ours, we will serve the Lord. We profess to be the remnant church; and if we are, God's cause must be supported, and I believe there are means enough in the church to carry on any enterprise that the Lord requires of us; and if we don't do it, he will raise up those that will. In my mind the Lord is now sitting as a purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them of gold and silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
I rejoice that the cause in many places is rising, and that the brethren begin to feel the responsibility that rests upon them. Let us come up, brethren, to the privilege of our high calling. If God be for us, who can be against us? And though we are scattered miles and miles apart, we have a medium by which we can converse. Let us then speak often one to another, and the Lord will hearken and hear, and a book of remembrance will be written before him for them that fear him and think on his name.
For me I still feel like going through with the remnant, though I often feel as though I was cast on some desolate shore, and there were nothing but wild beasts prowling around. There is no one that regards the Sabbath here, yet there is one family right on the immortality question, but otherwise they are on the "Age-to-Come" doctrine, and that I cannot endorse. I believe that when Christ comes it will not be to restore the carnal Jew, and to build up old Jerusalem, but it will be to take vengeance on his enemies.
Not long since I attended a meeting of what is called the Disciple, or Campbellite, church, and was requested to make some remarks, and thinking it a good time I took up the subject of the four universal kingdoms, spoken of by Daniel, and the everlasting kingdom of God. I had just commenced when a Baptist elder came in who had an appointment at the same place, and heard my remarks. So when his meeting began he went on to show that the kingdom was the church, and of course set up in the days of Christ and the apostles. I stated one thing to him after he had done speaking, citing him to where Paul says, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God."
People are very much prejudiced here against the Advent doctrine. It is almost impossible to get any one to read any of our works, and when they do, it is with so little interest that it does them no good. I should be glad if some of the preaching brethren could get as far as here in the course of the coming season. There are a number of brethren in this State. We live 110 miles from Iowa City.
Brethren, having cast in my lot among you, though unworthy, I still feel that I want to go with you, and make one of that number who will one day stand on mount Zion, and shout victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name; for I feel that your people are my people, therefore where you go I want to go, and where you die there would I be buried. I feel that I need the prayers of all the brethren situated as I am, where no one but my own family regard the sacredness of the Sabbath, that we may be kept from the evils that surround us, and that our garments always may be unspotted from the world, and we be kept faultless unto the coming of the Lord.
Yours till victory shall crown us.
ALVAREZ PIERCE.
Eldora, Hardin Co., Iowa, April 12th, 1857.