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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1859

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 13, No. 23.

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Letters.

By F. Wheeler

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."

From Bro. Wheeler.

Bro. Smith: It is some time since I have spoken through the Review to my brethren scattered abroad. Not that I have in any degree lost my interest in the paper, or the truths it advocates. My interest and my sympathies are in union with those who believe in, and are proclaiming the last message of mercy to a perishing world. But sickness in my family has occupied much of my time during the last winter. I have therefore had but little time to write or labor in proclaiming the truth. But through the mercy of God in answer to prayer my companion is now regaining her health, for which we desire to be very grateful to him. And with the returning health of my family I am again made free to go out to labor in the vineyard of the Lord.
March 13th, I commenced a series of meetings in Hannibal, at a school-house near Bro. Edson's, and gave twelve lectures. The traveling was very bad, and the attendance was not large, but very attentive to the word spoken. Two in that vicinity have recently commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Others were deeply convicted of the truth of our position, and some I trust will soon make up their minds to go with the remnant to mount Zion.
April 1st and 2d, I attended the monthly meeting of the church in Jefferson Co., at Mannsville. The Lord met with us by his Holy Spirit and encouraged our hearts to press on in the narrow way that leads to life. The church in Jefferson Co. have been much afflicted by sickness during the past winter. But there is an apparent increase of spirituality, and a desire to remove every stumbling-block out of the way, and as the result, union is increased, and some who have been separated have returned, and the Spirit of the Lord seems to be moving upon the honest around to investigate the truth.
April 9th and 10th, I spent with the little church in Oswego, in endeavoring to strengthen the things that remain, and had some freedom in presenting the truth to those that came out to hear. There appears to be in the church an increasing desire to arise and lay off their lukewarmness, and with renewed zeal and energy to engage in the work of the Lord.
And truly in the words of the Apostle, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Rom. xiii, 11, 12.
Yes, dear brethren, the long dark night of sin and sorrow is almost past; and the bright day of immortal glory will soon be ushered in by the advent of the Son of God, who will awaken the slumbering saints, and change the living to immortality and eternal life. Do we expect to share in that rich reward? If so, the works of darkness must be put off. Nothing short of holiness, or entire consecration to God, will prepare us to share the mansions of the blest. No sin will ever find an admittance to the earth made new. We must also put on the armor of light. We shall need the whole armor to be enabled to withstand the mighty influence of the powers of darkness in the last fearful conflict between truth and error, righteousness and unrighteousness, sin and holiness. The trial may be severe, but the day of victory is near. Christ and his cause will surely triumph. And they that are his, they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will soon join the triumphant shout, O grave, where is thy victory?
O Lord, let thy Spirit and truth arouse thy people, and hasten on that happy consummation.
F. WHEELER.
Oswego City, N. Y., April 11th, 1859.