REPORT FROM BRO. COTTRELL.
By R. F. Cottrell
BRO. SMITH: Since my last report I have visited the brethren at Westfield, Pa., and Wileyville, and Nile, N. Y. The little church at Westfield are striving to hold on and endure, notwithstanding discouragements and opposition. May the Lord bless them, build them up in their most holy faith, and add to their number such as shall be saved. Preached eight times while with them, and found more interest to hear than formerly there has been. Some are convicted of the truth, but are not ready to obey. This is the case almost everywhere the truth is preached. Alas! to how many will the preaching of the truth prove a savor of death unto death! At West Union I spent thirteen days, with the brethren at Wileyville and in an adjoining neighborhood. It happened here, as it frequently does in other places, that the professed christians generally did not manifest an interest to hear the Bible evidences of the near coming of Him they profess to love. Some of them however, and some "sinners of the Gentiles" came in, and gave a most attentive and respectable hearing, and some of the latter class were ready to confess the truth as far as they had learned. The Lord help them to obey, that their hearts may be converted as well as their heads. The church at Wileyville are growing strong in the truth, and I hope, not without reason I think, that their number will soon be increased. Yet some members are backward to realize that God requires their undivided affections. I hope they will see that a secondary interest in the cause of the Lord, which serves him after their own interest and convenience is served, will not be accepted. If this is the cause of the Lord, we can afford to put all on board; if it is not, we should have nothing to do with it. At Nile the leaven of truth is at work. Prejudice has been removed, and a humble, teachable spirit, which, in the sight of God, is of great price, has taken its place. We had a refreshing season with the brethren that met. I regretted that Eld. Robbins of Friendship was not able to meet with us, on account of an injury received by a fall. On First-day we had a precious season at the water, where two were buried in the likeness of Christ's death. The one was an aged sister, who had long rested on a spurious ceremony, which has no likeness to a burial and resurrection; the other, a youthful daughter of Bro. and sister Lamphier, who thus put on Christ in his own appointed way. The Lord help her to walk in newness of life by keeping the commandments of God. From Nile I returned to Mill Grove. Found my family and the church in health. Two had been added to the church in my absence. Bro. Ingraham baptized them, as he passed that way on his return to the West. The Lord is still at work, reclaiming the wanderers, and we hope others of the young among us will give themselves to the Lord. The beloved disciple said, "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth." And what can be greater joy to the remnant, than to see their children doing the same? I remained at home only four days, when I came to this place by request of Bro. Lebbeus Drew. Sister Drew was taken with bleeding at the lungs, and her life was despaired of, but the Lord has been merciful, and she is fast recovering, we hope. May the Lord bless this affliction to the family; and may the unconverted children be admonished to seek the Lord while he may be found. S. Putney, Steuben Co., N. Y., Dec. 17th, 1858.