Extracts from Letters

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 19, 1860

Extracts from Letters.

Sister M. Bean writes from E. Brookfield, Vt. : “I have thought much on this passage of late, ‘Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it.’ And again, ‘Exhort one another daily, and so much the more as we see the day approaching?’ Well how is this to be obeyed by many of the remnant as we are scattered far and wide, and as some of us seldom see or meet with those of like precious faith? I have come to the conclusion, that it is through this medium, the Review, that some of us are to live out the word in this respect. I hold my peace many times because of my inability to write for the public eye; but my mind is now made up to do my duty in every place, and leave it all with the Lord.

I feel very solemn when I look around and see what is going on in this world. I am led to say, ‘We are living, we are dwelling in a grand and awful time;’ and I see we must have every part of the armor on so as to be enabled to stand in these last days of peril. I tell you dear brethren and sisters, we must be pure in heart or we shall never see God in peace. I feel it is time that we as a church arise and press forward and seek more earnestly a deeper work of grace. We must grow in grace as we are commanded to do. I have thought sometimes that the progress of some in religion (I will say myself) was like one on a journey who should leave home and travel well and quite a distance, but turns about and come home for the night; go on next morning, travel well for a season, but return perhaps part way home. At that rate when would he reach his journey’s end? We must forget the things that are behind and press forward to the mark for the prize. Often my heart is made glad when I read the spirited communications, especially those on holiness. It is meat and drink to me to hear from the dear saints scattered east and west, north and south. It appears we all have one Lord, one faith, one baptism; and I hope we shall more than ever be joined together in one Spirit, our hearts being knit together in love. When we first embrace the truth I have thought we are much like the rough stones right from the quarry; we have to be hewed, made straight and polished; and I am thinking it will be the trials by the way that must do this work for us. We don’t go through here on flowery beds of ease, when the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering; and it is given unto us not only to believe on Jesus, but to suffer for his sake. Shall we refuse to follow the Man of sorrows, who when here on earth had not where to lay his head? I am ashamed that I have not always been patient in tribulation, when Jesus has not only suffered, but died that I might live. I can say that thus far my trials which have been many and severe have worked for my good. I expect there are more sufferings for us as we near the end. There are none of us yet who have been through Paul’s catalogue of sufferings, and Paul says he reckons the sufferings of this present life not worthy to be compared with the joy that shall follow. So we must make up our minds to endure hardness as good soldiers for Jesus, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. Then there is rest for the weary. We have got to give up our idols if as dear as right eyes, hands or feet. If it is pipe or tobacco or anything of the kind, do not touch taste nor handle. The best way to overcome is to begin in earnest, to seek for holiness of heart, to be cleansed from all impurity. Thus we may be, and must be; for no unholy thing shall enter that holy city, whose maker and builder is God. And when made pure we can say,

‘All the glorious heights of bliss My everlasting portion is, And all that heaven is ours.’ ”