OBITUARY by Joseph Bates

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 10, 1860

OBITUARY.

By Joseph Bates

Died in Pine Grove, Van Buren Co., Mich., April 25th, Louisa M. Lay, aged 57 years. Sister Lay commenced keeping the Sabbath in the third angel's message about five years ago. A few years since she was some inclined to believe Eld. Cranmer's new method of teaching the third angel's message. But after listening to her brethren in Allegan and Monterey she became satisfied that her first position was correct, and continued therein. She was sick but nine days. Her sufferings were very severe, yet in the midst of her bodily sufferings with lung fever, she proclaimed to those around her bed her unbounded confidence in God and resignation to his will. Said she would not exchange her situation with the kings of earth, for she felt happy in God, and ready to die. With a clear mind she gave directions respecting her household affairs, and who she wished to have attend her funeral, and peacefully and quietly died in the Lord. Her house was well filled with friends the 27th inst., who came to sympathise with her husband and children in their bereavement. The foundation of my subject was from 1 Cor. xv, 22, 23. At mid-day her body was deposited in the earth. "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return."

Joseph Bates. Monterey, Mich., Apr. 29th, 1860.

P. S. As I have referred to Eld. Cranmer in the above, I will state that about nine years ago he professed faith in the third angel's message and Sabbath of the Lord our God, and united himself with us. About two years since because the church would not approbate him to preach the message in his unqualified state, he left them and began to teach the message in accordance with his own peculiar views, professing to gather a remnant for the coming of the Lord.

Now as Eld. C. united and participated with the commandment-keepers in the third angel's message called the remnant of the seed of the woman, the church of God [compare Rev. xiv, 12; xii, 17], I ask his followers in all good conscience, if they can see one ray of hope of being gathered to be saved in a second or another remnant? Is it possible to find any scriptural proof of two remnants in the one church of God? or an outside track for all such as are unwilling to move onward with the main body? If not, why do you allow yourselves to be misled and deceived by a man who is beating the air. 1 Cor. ix, 26. Will you reply that you are the true remnant? If so, then you will be bound to prove that your new method began with the message. Here also you will fail. Neither can it be proved that Eld. Cranmer was moved by the Spirit of God to leave the remnant who had been progressing with the third angel's message since the fall of 1844, and commence it anew. No, no! God never does his work over. He has no two beginnings, nor two endings to his work, any more than he has two remnants in his church. All who carefully read the Bible know that God never deviates from his written word. As Eld. C. is not moved by the Spirit of God, but by another spirit, to do his strange work, why follow him any further? Judge ye what is truth.

The church in Monterey and vicinity are striving to enter the strait gate and narrow way. Two were baptized on profession of their faith and united with the church the last Sabbath. Providence permitting, I leave here in the morning for Caledonia and Bowne.

J. B.