MEETINGS IN INDIANA by John Norton Loughborough

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 26, 1859

MEETINGS IN INDIANA.

By John Norton Loughborough

DEAR BRO. SMITH: I have been laboring for a month past in the vicinity of North Liberty with some success. The meetings in the Baptist meeting-house, on Sumption's Prairie, increased in interest to the close. Quite a number are convinced that we have the truth, some I think will obey it. A Baptist elder is now engaged each Sunday morning in delivering a discourse in review of our lectures. Some have their eyes so far opened to the truth that his sophistry will not blind them. I gave notice at the commencement of the lectures if any had objections, or questions, to hand them in on paper. None however appeared till the last two evenings. I will give two or three as a sample.

"Question first. Where will the earth be when there is no place found for it? Rev. xx, 11."

"Second. If the earth be restored as it was before the fall of man, where will the fish be, as there will be no more sea? Rev. xxi, 1."

"Third. Why does God destroy a part of the animal creation, and restore the rest, as he must do if the lamb and the lion lie down together in the new world, and dogs are without? Rev. xxii, 15."

Another presented the following: "Lev. xxiii, 17 It appears from this scripture that in Moses' time there should be no servile work on the first day of the week; but a day of holy convocation."

Of course such objections as the above show the weakness of the cause they are advanced to sustain. I understand the elder claimed in his first discourse in review that the meek now inherit the earth, and that all those texts which speak of "the last days," have reference to the last days of the apostles.

Quite a field is opening here, and there are ears to hear the truth, and some who will obey. During the last week I have held seven meetings in a new place, six miles south of Liberty. The people come out and fill the house, and give good attention. Some seem to comprehend the truth, and admit its truthfulness as fast as they hear it. I feel that God must give the increase to the truth, or the planting of Paul, or watering of Apollos, will be of no avail in these degenerate times.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

North Liberty, Apr. 29th, 1859.

P. S. Since writing the above I have listened to a discourse from Eld. Hitchcock, (the Baptist elder referred to above,) on the saints' inheritance, intended as a review of our two discourses on the same subject. His claim was that the wolf and lamb now lie down together, and as an illustration said, "When Paul went down to Damascus with letters in his pocket, and authority to bring the saints bound to Jerusalem, did he not manifest the character of a wolf? When Jesus appeared to him in the way, and Paul was converted, was he not then a lamb? When the disciples heard that he prayed, they received him." We replied to this, that the elder's exposition showed simply that two lambs fed together, instead of a "wolf and a lamb."

His review will only awaken a greater interest in the minds of those whose hearts are open to conviction.

J. N. L.