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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 30, 1860

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 16, No. 24.

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LETTERS.

By Hannah Clough

“Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.”

From Sister Clough.

Bro. SMITH: I have felt for some time as if I should like to communicate some of my feelings to my brethren and sisters through the Review. When I look around on the world, and worldly professors, and by the light of the present truth see whither their course is tending, when I see men endowed with reason, understanding and judgment, bending their whole being as it were to obtain the riches, honors and applause of this poor fading world, when I see women of talent and education, who might be the means of doing much good in the world, make themselves the veriest slaves of fashion, their dress, their style of living, and how to keep up with the times, seeming to be the main object for which they live; when I consider these things, I wonder if it could have been much worse in the days of Noah or of Lot.
Dear brethren and sisters, we have had light upon the third angel's message. We can see that according to the word of God, and the signs of the times, great judgments are about to burst upon this generation of men, and our main question ought to be, How shall we escape the direful calamities that are so soon coming? How important that we have a well-grounded hope that reacheth to that within the vail. It is evident that we as a people have been living far beneath our privilege. But many are coming up on to better ground, and are taking for their motto, Without holiness no man shall see God; and this seems to be the right place and time for such a doctrine to be preached. We have seen that a correct Bible theory could not save us. We have found that notwithstanding the clear light of present truth has been shining upon our pathway, we have failed of loving God with all our hearts, or our neighbor as ourselves. But this doctrine of entire sanctification brings us at the root of the matter. May the Lord help us to see ourselves as he sees us, and then no doubt we shall realize what a great work we have to do, to get ready for the coming of the dear Saviour. O, how important it is that we be in earnest, and wide awake to the subject of being fully given up to the will of the Lord in all things. We must be willing to suffer with him here if we expect to reign with him by and by.
Brethren and sisters, I thank God for the prospect that is before the finally faithful. My greatest care is to know that I shall be there. We have a powerful foe to contend with, and he knows all about the weak places in the citadel of our hearts, and knows where to place all his temptations in order to lead us astray. But how thankful we should be that we may cast our care on One that is mighty, who is able to deliver, and who will with the temptation make a way for our escape; and not only so, but every temptation overcome in the name of the Lord makes us still stronger to endure after conflicts.
My prayer is that the Lord would abundantly bless all those that are honest-hearted in the truth. May his blessing rest upon the Review, its editors, and all those that write for it. Especially would I crave the blessing of the Lord to rest upon Bro. and sister White in their arduous labors of love, and although they have passed through many conflicts with the powers of darkness, and have suffered much from those who are ever watching to make a man an offender for a word, yet still the blessing of the Lord does rest upon them, and if they continue faithful to their trust a little longer, what glorious crowns of righteousness will be placed upon their heads!
May the Lord give each one of us a disposition to study our own hearts, and each one get rid of our own wrongs ere we undertake to apply the rule too closely to our brother.
Brethren and sisters, let us gird on the whole armor and trust wholly in the Lord, and we shall come off conquerors, and be permitted to enter the goodly land, and meet our dear friends who now sleep in Jesus, and all the holy angels, and we shall find the promise fully verified, that “all things work together for good to those that love God.” May this be our happy lot, is my prayer.
Yours in the bonds of love.
Hannah Clough.
Barton Landing, Vt.