p. 198 | Extracts from Letters

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 6, 1858

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. J. G. Post writes from Portland, Ct.

"Bro. SMITH: As it has been some time since I addressed you by letter, I thought I would say that the Lord is good to us in old Connecticut as in Michigan. Though we are few and small, yet we live by faith on the Son of God, and are looking for his soon coming to gather his own to their reward, and give the sinner his doom. And when I think of the judgment, I am constrained to say, O Lord,

"Keep us little and unknown, Loved and prized by God alone."

"I am sure if the world love us, it is a very sure evidence that we are of the world; for the world loves its own. The word says, Because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world; therefore the world hateth you. Now I am constrained to believe that the time has come when we, as believers in the soon coming of Christ, should live by faith and not by sight. We are living in a time of trial. There are many that seem to love the world, notwithstanding they say that Christ is soon to come; and when I hear of those who are hugging their money and putting it into banks for safe keeping until some future day, I think they love that more than they do God. If they loved God as well as they appear to love their bank stock, the messengers would not be under the necessity of stopping their labor in the gospel field to get bread for their children. O that God would pour his Spirit out upon those brethren that are able to help the poor until they shall see the importance of an entire consecration to God of all they have. Had I it in my power, the messenger would go on his way rejoicing. But it is my lot to be poor in this world's goods.

"Our little church stands well so far as I know at this time. I am some fifteen miles from the brethren; yet I sometimes go over to meet them, and get my strength renewed."