Meetings at Stony Creek, Mich.
By M. E. Cornell
We arrived in this place the very day that Bro. Bates left, and continued our meetings for five successive days, much to our own encouragement, and we believe to the good of souls. A deep solemnity pervaded the meetings, and freedom was given to talk out the "great things of God's law" which seemed to fall upon good ground. Several decided to walk in the truth. One, Eld. Fisher, Baptist minister, who had heard the reasons of our faith for the first time from Bro. Bates, seemed to take a decided stand upon all the truth as far as he had heard. Bro. Lawrence was made glad by seeing his wife and daughter come to a final decision, to cast in their lot with the remnant. Some in the church in that vicinity are evidently rising and beginning to hunger and thirst after righteousness; but Oh, how painful it was to see others who had professed the Sabbath for years, and had enjoyed great privileges in the truth, pass through all our interesting social meetings without once bearing testimony in favor of the truth. While others wept or rejoiced they seemed but little affected, and we could not resist the conviction that they were being spued out of the mouth of the faithful and true Witness. Oh, what a solemn moment! Some are heeding the counsel of Jesus, and making that "extra effort" to overcome, and others are drawing back to perdition. O, ye professed children of God, do take warning! Do any of you feel more and more indifferent and stupid? then be alarmed. Jesus has been a long time shut out. Beware lest your case be as described in Cant. v, 6. "I opened to my beloved: but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer." The fatal moment has arrived, and it is now life or death. The decision that we now make is for eternity. We are sailors on the Ship Zion; and shall we stop to rest and take our ease in the midst of these perils? We are soldiers in the army of the remnant; and shall we sleep at our post in the heat of battle, before the victory is won? If we do we shall be reported and discharged; and when the victory is won we shall not be there. A separation is taking place; the line is being drawn between those who really serve God, and those who serve him not; and this distinction becomes more and more apparent every day. O, how it does encourage me to meet with those who are engaged in the cause; who seem to be in earnest about obtaining salvation. I would say to such, Go on, persevere and cease not to wrestle and pray till you sup with Jesus. And O, I would say as did Ruth of old, "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to turn from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." M. E. CORNELL.
Battle Creek, April 1st, 1858