Revival and Sabbath Truth in Connecticut
By Asa Kimball
BRO. SMITH: I write to let you know how we are getting along here in Conn. We are in the midst of a great revival as it is called by the churches, especially Windham Co., and more particularly in the town where I reside. I must confess I never knew such a movement in this line before, neither do the oldest inhabitants recollect such an outpouring of the Spirit. The hardest sinners of every grade of society are crying out, "What shall I do to be saved." The Congregational minister of our town came to me to unite in this great work of leading sinners to the Saviour, for said he, "The fields are all white for the harvest, and the laborers are few." I thought so myself and readily complied with his request, and the result is, that some of the young converts have commenced keeping the seventh day Sabbath, and are getting hold of the glorious truths of the coming of the Lord and the last message. We hold our Sabbath meetings regularly, and it is a matter of rejoicing to us to hear the young converts pray and exhort. The Lord blesses wonderfully. One of the Congregational members, a man who has been united with the church more than forty years, ventured into one of our Sabbath meetings, perhaps as a spie, for he came across the pastures; but the old man got melted all down. He prayed, he exhorted and sung, and wept like an infant, and when he left the house, he bid us God speed in this glorious work. We are destitute of a person qualified to administer the ordinance of baptism, and the other ordinances. Our preaching brethren seem to be detained in the northern part of the New England States. We feel a little as the Psalmist did at one time, Ps. lxxi, 12. "O my God, haste thou to my help." I believe the hearts of the people are being prepared for the refreshing, or the last solemn message; for the prophecy must be fulfilled, Joel ii, 28, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh." Then all will have an opportunity to get converted, that their sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts iii, 20. "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you, whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Yours in the faith.
ASA KIMBALL.
Hampton, Ct., Feb. 7th, 1858.