"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Sister Steward.
Dear Brethren and Sisters: I have often been admonished and encouraged by reading your communications, and feeling willing to cast in my mite towards the support of this most interesting part of our interesting paper, I try, for the first time to write to you. I feel a union with the people of God. Do we not all belong to one family—our mother the New Jerusalem, our Father, God, our elder brother, Jesus? And what a perfect family we'll all make at last, when we get home. I re-
joice that God requires us to be perfect; that eventually our dear, blessed family shall bear no "spot or wrinkle, or any such thing." Glorious thought! I feel that God's requirements are all, not only just but reasonable and merciful, and I am glad that we may and can "yield ourselves servants to obey" him; that there is one so great and good to whom we may give ourselves, all our cares and enjoyments, our all, and feel that he will take care of us, and that he knows just how to use us where we can do most for his blessed cause. Yes, thank the Lord that to-day I feel that I can submit my all to him, and cling to him as a little child does to an earthly parent, while passing through dangers and darkness. But I long for more, even perfection. God help me to attain to it. My mind has been dwelling upon the promises of God. How vast they are! No wonder that Peter called them "exceeding great and precious promises" too, and Paul declared he counted all things but loss &c., that he might win Christ. And can not we, dear brethren and sisters, count all earthly possessions and enjoyments but loss, that we may secure Jesus and a home in his everlasting kingdom, with immortality and eternal life! What a promise! Exceeding great and precious! How our minds run out and our hearts swell in trying to reach its extent. It is inconceivable; and then it is a life of happiness, a life of holiness and love—love running and returning from heart to heart. Not a discordant or unholy thought or feeling will be in all the countless multitudes of the redeemed. And can it be this state is attainable by poor fellow mortals, even ourselves? Oh it is of the wonderful condescension of God! And how can it be our hearts are not always overflowing with love and thankfulness to him who has done, is doing and has promised to do so much for us? Bless his holy name, he knows we are but dust, and so his mercy and love is with us day after day.
We find the churches here, at Adario, and Mackford, in a prospering condition. I think, the Holy Spirit makes his abode with many dear brethren and sisters in these places. May they be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. I believe God has a people in this State; but my heart is pained while I remember many whom I have loved in the truth, now far away in the Age-to-come. Oh can not such see that a doctrine that bears such "fruit," that leads to coldness and death, (spiritual,) cannot be accepted of God? Even admitted it were truth, in what does it concern you? Can it lead you to a closer walk with God? Does it cleanse from any sin? do you feel after dwelling upon it, better fitted to lead dying souls to Jesus? "We shall know them by their fruits." Do remember "now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation;" not after the change of dispensations and the Saviour has left the mediatorial seat.
Brethren in Wisconsin, look at the effects of this doctrine in our own State. How many of all who believe it have not left practical godliness and consecration to God, for a dying, theoretical religion? Few indeed, as far as I can learn. Has not this fact a voice for you? Time has been when God accepted and blessed you—your sick were raised. (Do not now tempt God by attributing the works of his Spirit to any other cause.) I recall the happy seasons we have spent together. My heart turns to you as it did then, but it is to remember that devotion has given place, I fear to a fearful extent, to theory and coldness. Is it not so? Search your own hearts, be true to yourselves and to God. Oh it pains my very soul, when I contrast those days with the present. You certainly can yourselves see the change. And may we never begin around159your family altars and in your prayer-meetings witness what we have in by-gone days? Arise! "arise from the dead and Christ shall give you light." Do you not see that in your present dark situation, you are not prepared in many instances to discern truth from error? Otherwise what did Paul mean when he said, "The things of the Spirit, are spiritually discerned." And why then are you so sure you have the truth? Oh do, I entreat, make one more effort. Come to Jesus, humble yourselves, submit all into his hands just as you are, and go about doing his will, asking of him guidance, not only regarding your duty, but also his truth. He has promised wisdom to those who lack. Be persuaded to ask for his assistance, and go about getting perfected for the kingdom of God. Do have more care for yourselves and your own probation, which you admit will soon close, than for theorizing upon a probation for a race of beings no more precious than the sinners of our own land, whom you might now be instrumental in leading to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Do try to get into a position where you may use all the talents God has given you for the salvation of the many around us sinking fast, we may say, almost daily, beyond the reach of mercy. Get a religion that has a life, a present zeal and work in it; and then while you may never take of the "heathen" for followers of the Lamb, you may be sure of other stars in the crown of your rejoicing. If God has called you, it is into a vineyard, and he expects you to labor; otherwise, your places will be filled with others who will eventually take your crowns—so that the kingly and priestly office of the saints you will never fill after all. We can trust the future with our kind heavenly Father, and be assured, dear brethren, we shall with David be satisfied when we awake in his likeness. Then let us give our attention to present truth and present duty, and we shall find enough to occupy our entire hearts and time.
Dear brethren and sisters, pray for us that our "whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
MYRTA E. STEWARD.
Hancock, Wis., March 21st, 1859.