p. 103 | Extracts from Letters

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 14, 1860

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. C. L. Rogers writes from Ripon, Wis.: "Permit me, through the columns of your paper, to say to the dear brethren and sisters scattered abroad, that I am still striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. As often as the Sabbath returns, which I hail with delight, while I see others laboring all around me, the command comes to me, Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Dear brethren and sisters, how I feel the need of the supporting grace of God, to bear me up under the trials and difficult circumstances in which I am placed. I praise the Lord for as much of his love as I feel shed abroad in my heart. I still feel determined to go on and strive to keep all his commandments, and try to do every known duty in the love and fear of God. Brethren, pray for me that I may be enabled to live acceptably in the sight of God, and to set godly examples before the world, and all with whom I have to do, that I may not bring a wound or reproach on the cause of Christ.

"I have not enjoyed the privilege of meeting with any of like precious faith since I left my brethren and sisters at Fish Lake, except an interview I had a short time since with Bro. Hargrave and his family in Ripon, which was a very agreeable, and to me blessed, interview. Brethren, though we are separated in body, yet am I present with you in spirit, and feel to rejoice in the thought that if faithful we shall one day meet in the city of the New Jerusalem, where will be no more separation from friends we love; and what is best of all, Jesus will be there, and will wipe away all tears from all faces, and there shall be no more sorrow nor crying, and

There we shall see his face, And never, never sin, There from the rivers of his grace, Drink endless pleasures in.

"Praise God! Blessed Jesus! How precious is the name!

I love to think on mercies past, And future good implore, And all my cares and sorrows cast, On him whom I adore.

"I feel that I love God, and am striving to live in obedience to all his requirements. He blesses me from day to day, and I feel to put my trust and confidence in him, and to rely upon his word. We hope at last to meet you all in his glorious kingdom, to enjoy the blessings in store for the faithful, to all eternity."

Sister A. J. Dyer writes from Lyons, Ohio: "I love to hear through the Review from those scattered abroad, chosen to be saints. We may never see each other's faces here, but O what a blessed thought, what a glorious hope, that if we are only faithful we shall meet in that heavenly city, and hold unbroken communion with all the pure and holy, by the river of life which issues from the throne of God. There sorrow and sighing shall be done away, and God shall wipe off all tears from all faces; and he that sitteth upon the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters.

O what are all my sufferings here, If, Lord, thou count me meet, With all the enraptured host to appear, And worship at his feet.'

"And we are urged to come and partake of the joys of heaven. How kindly has Jesus entreated us to come to the Father through him. He has said, 'If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.' 'Verily, verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.' If it were not for these blessed promises, I should almost despair of ever reaching the celestial city; but he has said, 'My grace is sufficient for thee.' O may I have faith to cling to the blessed promise. What sweet words are those given in Matt. vii, 7, to encourage faith. We come to a parent never thinking but that we shall get our request if it is in their power to grant it. And he says, 'How much more shall our Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him. O I want just such implicit faith and confidence; for I have great need of them to keep me in these perilous times, and to purify a sinful heart. May we be more earnest and self-denying. Let us make a covenant with our God by sacrifice."

Bro. J. V. Weeks writes from Civil Bend: "In looking about us we find not only the openly wicked and profane trampling on the fourth commandment, but those who profess to have sweet communion with the Saviour hesitate not to break God's holy law and teach others to do the same. Such associations and connections are not desirable for Sabbath-keepers endeavoring to rear a family in obedience to God's law. All the imposing solemnities of public worship, all the teachings and influences which should cluster around the Sabbath of the Eternal are here associated with the Sabbath of the Pope, having more or less influence on the mind of the young.

Brethren and sisters in the Lord, we earnestly long for the time when some of the messengers of the truth shall come this way and labor in this part of the vineyard that God may be glorified in the formation of churches of believers in the truth of the third angel's message, and firm defenders of the law of God. O, for an overcoming faith, an entire consecration to the work of the Lord. We have often desired and perhaps coveted those gifts which some of you so eminently possess whereby we might successfully teach transgressors of God's law the error of their ways and be instrumental in sustaining the cause of truth. We are resolved to be active in our proper place in this spiritual building, hoping and trusting that God's blessing will attend the truth everywhere, and especially here, that precious souls may be added to the remnant of his people, though scattered, yet one in Christ."

Bro. L. L. Stone writes from Enosburg, Vt. : "It is but a short time since the Sabbath has been kept in this place as a holy day, the day that God has blessed and sanctified.

We are little 'tis true, And our numbers are few,

but we thank God that to the few, if faithful to the commandments of God and faith of Jesus, the Lord will give eternal life; they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of his hand. John x, 28. Thank God for the present truth. I want to take hold of this work as for eternal life. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."