To Correspondents by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 2, 1858

To Correspondents.

By Editor

GEO. WRIGHT: A sufficient answer to the story that several hundreds have left the Third Angel's Message in Wisconsin, on account of views advocated by Bro. Waggoner, will be found in a few facts. The largest number of papers we ever sent into that State was 249. This was some over three years ago. Since then we have had occasion to trim up that list several times. Since that time, also, a separation has taken place between the true and the false. The gangrene (if we may use a medical term) of No-law and Age-to-Come, has sloughed off; we now know who our friends are, and where to find them; the majority of our former brethren have remained true to the Cause they love; and we now send as many papers into Wisconsin as ever, with the exception of 39. This speaks well for the condition of the Cause in that section. We understand the prospect never was better than now for healthy action in that State.

Suppose brother Waggoner had preached that believers should "sell what they had and lay it at his feet," (which, who is credulous enough to believe!) if any would give up the truth for such a cause as that, it would show, would it not, that the truth had but a very slight hold upon their hearts and affections? One thing we are quite sure of, and that is that they didn't lay much at his feet: we think it would have spoken better for some of them if they had. He may have referred them to the command of the Saviour, "Sell that ye have and give alms." Our preachers still preach this, and we still believe it to be duty—understanding the passage, of course, as modified by other scriptures. Allowing scripture to explain scripture, the declaration evidently means, that a man should hold subject to the calls of humanity and religion whatever he has above the necessities of his own household; [1 Tim. v, 8;] that one, of his abundance should supply the wants of another; [2 Cor. viii, 14;] or that every one should lay by him as the Lord hath prospered him. 1 Cor. xvi, 2. There will probably be found plenty of Ananiases and Sapphiras who will even shrink from, or try to evade, this just principle, and misrepresent those who believe in it.

Our brethren who have lately come to the faith, and are consequently unacquainted with all the devices of its enemies, must not be startled nor staggered at the wild reports that may be afloat. We are prepared to caution them beforehand not to give the least credence, or pay the least attention, to any such reports till they know for themselves upon what foundation they rest.

E. O. Fish, L. M. A., and Friend of Present truth, we designed to notice your queries in this number, but have not space.