Meetings in Crane's Grove, Ills.
By C. W. Sperry
Bro. Hart and myself commenced meetings here, Dec. 29th, and continued until we held eighteen public meetings, besides visiting from house and conversing much around the fireside. We found ourselves surrounded by those who believed in the Age-to-Come theory, and no-law system. There was much prejudice against our position, and this prejudice was much strengthened by Stephenson's late position. But they were led by the help of the Lord to see the truth of the Third Angel's Message, and its harmony with the past Advent movement belonging to the present age, and the importance of being labeled for the New Jerusalem instead of the old. Some acknowledged that the Age-to-Come doctrine had been preached so much that by it they had lost most if not all vital piety and spirituality, and felt so deeply under it that they had been praying for some one to come along and stir them up; and at the close of our meetings they believed their prayer was answered. But while the truth was presented, some cried one thing and some another. Two Age-to-Come ministers came in with two positions concerning the law. One believed it was abolished; for it was a law of ordinances, and he said a man might keep the whole ten commandments and not be a christian, and that a man might keep the first commandment and yet hate God; he called us foolish Galatians, &c. The other minister took the ground that the law was not abolished, but belonged exclusively to the Jews, and was not binding upon christians. The Lord helped us to show the fallacy of both these positions, and four families came out decided on the truth. Others I expect will follow. One brother from the Methodists came out decidedly. They changed their meetings from the first day to the seventh, and may they ever call the Sabbath a delight. At this place the promise was verified, "His truth shall be thy shield and buckler." And while some stand in the way and ask for the old paths, and are willing to walk in them, others are saying as the Prophet said they would, "we will not walk therein;" and while some will hearken to the sound of the trumpet, others say, we will not hearken. May these remember the evil that is coming upon such as will not hearken. "Because they have not hearkend to my words nor to my law, but rejected it." Jer. vi. 16-19. I can say with David, "Thy law is the truth." Ps. cxix, 142. "So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever." Ps. cxix, 44. The more the truth is tested, the brighter and clearer it looks. I thank the Lord for the sweet freedom there is in the truth. Round Grove, Ills., Jan. 15th, 1858.