M. B. SMITH by M. B. Smith

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 22, 1861

M. B. SMITH

By M. B. Smith

From Bro. Smith.

Bro. SMITH: The church here has increased in numbers since Bro. Cornell left us, and we trust has made some advancement in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. There is a good prospect that others will take a stand with us on the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and that some who have never tasted that the Lord is gracious will be led to seek God with all their hearts and obey all the present truth.

O how important that those who are seeking religion fully realize that God will not accept a divided heart; that he will not accept a lame sacrifice. How many fail here! God says, Give me thy heart; and it would be contrary to God's character to ask more, or accept less. Yes, the requirement would cease to be godlike, were it less. He is our Creator, and is worthy of our supreme love. He makes no requirements of us but those which are holy and just; and as he is holy, he cannot accept of the sinner on any conditions only those laid down in his word.

We have meetings twice a week, although we are compelled to hold them in a private house. This puts us in mind of a prediction made by Luther, that near the end the gospel would be shut out of all the churches, and be confined to private houses. Several members of other churches have visited our meetings, and were generally well pleased. One aged lady remarked that it seemed like an old-fashioned class-meeting. May God help us to get into the old paths. We need some one to feed us with the word of life, and we expect Bro. Snook with us soon. We feel assured that he will do us good. We thank our heavenly Father for the Review by which we have the means of speaking often to each other. How necessary that we speak as the oracles of God, that we be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment. We want to so put on the Lord Jesus that we will not be among that number whom the Lord will spue out of his mouth; for he has said he will spue the lukewarm out of his mouth. The Lord will have a people who are zealous in his cause; a people who will sanctify the Lord in their hearts. O how necessary that we watch and pray continually that we enter not into temptation. It takes a great deal of grace in the heart to enable one to lead a truly pious life in these last days, when wickedness abounds, and when there is so much of a form of godliness and so little of its power, when there are so many who are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. But nevertheless, among all these difficulties it is not impossible, for God has said, My grace is sufficient for thee. If our strength was in man truly we might despair; but when we realize that our strength is in one who is mighty to save, and when we realize the extent of those exceeding great and precious promises, truly there is no need of fear. But yet how important that we make a full consecration, for the Master has said, Except we forsake all, we cannot be his disciples, and he that hateth not his father and mother, yea, and his own life, cannot be my disciple. How apt we are to measure ourselves by ourselves, or by those around us. How apt we are to engage with the world or with wicked professors in things that grieve the Holy Spirit and

unfit us for the worship of God and a steady growth in grace. May God help us to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit. Yes, all filthiness of the flesh as well as the Spirit; from all those lusts which war against the soul, that we may receive the plaudit, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord."

Temperance is one of the Christian graces; and yet it is seldom fully appreciated and carried out by Christians. Some think if they only abstain from the use of liquor they are carrying out the principles of temperance to their full extent, consequently they chew and smoke tobacco, and eat to excess, without any compunctions of conscience, thereby causing the body to be a clog to the soul, and often causing sickness of the body and stupidity of the intellectual and moral faculties. Let us study to know ourselves, and while the Scriptures give liberty in eating and drinking, let us not use this liberty in such a way that it shall prove a curse rather than a blessing to us. Let us strive to glorify God in our bodies and spirits which are his, and add to our faith such things as *Peter says shall secure us an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. i, 5-11. Brethren and sisters, pray for us in Iowa that we may overcome in Jesus' name.

M. B. SMITH

Marion, Iowa.