p. 206 | L E T T E R S by Laura C. Tolhurst

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 14, 1861

L E T T E R S.

By Laura C. Tolhurst

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

From Sister Tolhurst.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I live separated from those of like precious faith. Opposers of the truth are necessarily my associates; and they are not slow to bring anything to my ears which would wound the cause of Christ. My heart very often bleeds for the precious truth. When those who are numbered with the Seventh-day Adventists do anything a little out of the way, the opposers catch it, and eagerly communicate it to others. I am acquainted with quite a number of people in Ohio. They are becoming acquainted with our position, and watch every one whom they happen to meet or hear of, to see if they are a peculiar, holy people, and live out their profession.

Many in Ohio have friends in Michigan, which hear and know of the Seventh-day Adventists there. They will catch at any wrong as a sweet morsel, without stopping to see the good. I am led to ask myself the question, What am I doing to injure the cause and grieve holy angels? A neutral position is not possible. I am either for or against the truth.

Brethren and sisters, let us be watchful, and seek to have the evidence within us, that we are with the church who are keeping the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus, desiring to be on the firm platform. I often think of what the angel said, "Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin in these messages." For one I have tried to test myself some upon this point, to see if my will was subject to the will of God, and ready to move along with the work; and I can say to the dear brethren and sisters, that

I can rejoice in this one thing, that my heart is ready,

yes, has waited the past year, to see what was truth, and as ready to respond. It has given me joy to experience the working of the Spirit upon my heart in this respect, amid my dark hours of doubts and fears. I am led to praise God that my heart is with his people in the third angel's message. I have long prayed that I might have more evidence that my heart was in the work and think it has pleased the Lord to give me this evidence. If the cause suffers I suffer with it, and feel to mourn over our lukewarm state, realizing that I must strive and overcome, or be spued out of the mouth of the Lord.

O let me not bring reproach upon this precious cause, and cause some to mourn over me, because I am such a wayward child. Consistency! how much to be desired by the people of God at the present time. My heavenly Father knows that this jewel I have long desired and still desire. The time is very near when Jesus cannot bear with lukewarmness any longer. We cannot love the world neither the things of the world; if we do, the love of the Father is not in us. We must be separate, yet consistent. We cannot mince the truth. The world and opposers will respect us more for living out what we profess, than they will if we hold on to the truth with one hand, and the world with the other.

I feel to thank my heavenly Father for the Testimony to the church. How good to have the word confirmed by the ministration of angels at this age of the world! How could the church bear up under the burden which rests upon her to proclaim the third angel's message in the face of opposition and darkness caused by sin, besides our individual warfare with sin and the enemy, without the comforting words and rebukes which our kind Father gives us as pledges of his love; calling upon us to be zealous and repent, that we may one and all humble ourselves, that in due time we may be exalted.

The world understand not the times and seasons; therefore men's hearts fail them, but we have a place to rest our heads until the storm be past. We know from the word, and have it confirmed by spiritual gifts, where we are in the world's history. May we with hearts full of gratitude receive all that a kind heavenly Father desires to give his children in these last days. May we in Ohio so live that the Lord can help us by his Holy Spirit the coming season. Sometimes I have felt quite impatient for the Ohio tent to come to Columbia, but think I am willing to wait until the blessing is ready for us.

Yours seeking for immortality and eternal life.

LAURA C. TOLBURST.

Columbia, Lorrain Co., Ohio.