Leaving Age-to-Come Views
By Seth Newton
Bro. SMITH: I am still trying to live for God, though I feel my weakness and unworthiness to be great. But when I look into God's word and see there the glorious promises for them that will overcome, it gives me courage to strive on and try to keep all God's holy commandments and the faith of Jesus. It has now been about two years since I received the third angel's message, and came out of the Age-to-Come views, and left those with whom I had traveled since 1842. We then started out, believing that Christ would come in 1844, or about that time. We believed that God was in the work, and we had strong faith that the Lord was just about to save the righteous and destroy the wicked. It was a solemn time with us. We felt under it and strove to purify ourselves by living out the truth. We can now ask ourselves, How has it been since? After the time passed we were left in the dark, as it were, in regard to the position we occupied. We thought we were willing to walk in the light, and some did, as we now can see. We are willing to believe that it was the first angel's message that moved us out. Others are not willing to believe in the messages. Such have run off into the Age-to-Come doctrine and other theories which I need not mention. Dear brethren and sisters, I am thankful to God that I see his goodness in sending some one this way to tell us of the danger we were in. I hope to live so that I shall be saved at last, and with you inherit eternal life. The church here at Crane's Grove number eleven. We are not without trials and temptations. The same tempter, the Devil, comes this way, and we need to pray often in order to overcome. As we pass on in our journey to the New Jerusalem we must watch and pray much, or the Spirit of Jesus will not abide with us. If we have the Ark of God with us we can prevail. Bro. Rhodes was with us a few weeks ago, and stopped one week. We were all much benefited by his visit. We have taken hold of the plan of Systematic Benevolence, and would recommend it to all in order that each of us in proportion help the cause of God, that it may prosper, and the warning go forth more fully to the world. If we withhold from God's cause what belongs to God, will not the blood of souls be found on our garments? O let us search our hearts and be willing to work for God. Brethren and sisters, it rejoices my heart to hear from you. I ask you not to do as I have done, wait and let those that can write well and compose well do all the writing, but let us bring in our testimonies and perhaps the Lord will bless us in so doing. I want more of the love of God, and more of his Spirit to guide me in this perilous time. I want to be more dead to the world and alive to God, or I fear that I shall not be one of those that will be found ready and waiting when the Master comes. Are we not coming up to the time in which the message will go with a loud cry? I believe we are. My soul cries out to God for grace and strength to do every duty, and to humble myself under his mighty hand, that I may continue to live in obedience to all his commandments. Pray for me that I with you may share in the blessings that God has for his people. Your brother,
Crane's Grove, Ills.
SETH NEWTON.