Meetings in Hillsdale, Mich.
By A. S. Hutchins
Bro. Smith: Since my last I have been in this place, visiting and holding meetings as my health and strength would admit; and I think I may safely say that the Brn. and Srs. are endeavoring to heed the injunction of the Apostle, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. iii, 18. The efforts made when Bro. Waggoner was here, to set things in order in this church, have resulted in good. The blessing of the Lord rests sweetly upon us in our meetings, and around the family altar. It does seem to me that the time has fully come for the church of God in different places to throw off their burdens, and to remove the stumbling-blocks out of the way. Not however till every effort has been made to comfort and encourage such as know but little about getting victory over the temptations and devices of Satan. But when such have been cautioned, and counseled, and exhorted faithfully a suitable length of time, and grow no better, but rather worse, why not obey the instruction of God's word? See Rom. xvi, 17; 2 Thess. iii, 6; 1 Cor. v, 5, 11; Titus iii, 10. Says David, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Ps. cxxxiii, 1. But how can a faithful, devoted servant of the Lord have union with, and fellowship for, some that profess to love the appearing of Christ, and claim to be keeping the Commandments of God? "What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" 1 Cor. vi. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Eph. iv, 11-13. Here we learn that the Church of God will yet be brought into the "unity of the faith," which will lead to unity in practice. And if for the accomplishment of this object it is necessary in some places to lessen our numbers, we say, let the work be done. Last Sabbath evening, I spoke on the subject of the "unity of the church;" and in the forenoon on the importance and necessity of watchfulness and prayer. In the afternoon we had an encouraging and heart-cheering prayer and conference meeting. In the evening of Third-day, I spoke on the duty of parents to their children, and of the obedience which children should render to their parents. That the prophecy, "disobedient to parents," is being fulfilled before us, and that "the child behaves himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable," it seems to me none can deny. But we hope to see our brethren and sisters wake up to their duty to their children. Much confusion is often produced, and the Spirit of God grieved in the house of prayer by the liberty given children, that might and should be taught to love God, and to respect the hours of his worship. To-day we have had a meeting of interest and profit, in which the sufferings and death of our Lord and Saviour were commemorated. From this place we go to Burr Oak. A. S. Hutchins. Hillsdale, Mich., Feb. 11th, 1858.