p. 87 | Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 11, 1862

Extracts from Letters.

Wm. F., & S. Crous write from Toboso, Ohio: "It is truly cheering to us to get the Review week after week, and read the many rich testimonies it brings. It is all the way we have of hearing from those we love, the followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. We believe with all our hearts that the Seventh-day Adventists are the chosen people of God. We want to live with this people; for we think their end will be peace. The third angel's message is truly a rich message to those that love it. We feel thankful that we are permitted to live in a time when the gifts of the church are being restored."

Sister S. Robinson writes from Union City, Mich.: "I am not discouraged, but am determined to press my way onward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. New year's day I formed a determination to be more devoted to the service of God. I want to be a bold soldier in the cause of Christ. I want to live close to God, knowing if I do, that he will never forsake me. I would be very glad to meet with those I love in truth, and for the sake of the truth, but I know not whether I ever shall have the privilege. I want to have an inheritance in the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Bro. N. Keezer writes from Lodi, Wis.: "For the first time I write to you, feeling it a duty to give in my testimony on the side of the Lord. It is now over a year since I first saw that all the commandments were binding, and have been trying to keep them. But O, how much I lack! I find that it takes but a trifle to break a commandment, and if we break one of the least commandments we are guilty of all. Since the tent-meeting in Lodi, the opposition has been very strong. 'Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.' Heb. x, 38, 39. David says, The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. And he also says, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. I want to live faithful in the cause, and be ready to receive my Saviour when he shall come without sin unto salvation. There is great encouragement for us to go on and endure to the end; for the Saviour informs us that the same shall be saved."

Bro. T. M. Steward writes from Mauston, Wis., Jan. 28, 1862: "I have been examining the subject of spiritual gifts, and the more I look at the subject the more I see the necessity of them. We believe we are the people that will be found without fault before the throne of God, having no guile in their mouths. If this is so, then we are to be found perfect and entire, wanting nothing, keeping all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. But are we perfect now? No. Then we must be made perfect. But if the people of God have been so long striving to attain unto perfection and have not arrived at the point yet, then may we not well despair of ever attaining to perfection? Certainly, unless we take God's own appointed way and means."

"I understand Paul to teach that the gifts of the Spirit are for the perfecting of the saints. So we may look for the gifts before the church gets perfect. It seems these gifts are to bear a part in perfecting the saints. We would not expect that they all would make their appearance at once, but one serve to prepare the way for others, and as the church becomes acquainted with them, and is capable of using and appreciating them, the Lord will bestow others, until we are found in possession of all the gifts. But these gifts will be no help to us unless we acknowledge them, and are willing to be reproved and corrected by them. I can see no way to be consistent with them, without making them a test. Now let us as a people adopt any and every means God may see fit to use to bring us to perfection before the solemn decree shall pass, 'He that is unjust, let him be unjust still.' If we will only submit to God's own way and will, he will sanctify us wholly, soul, body, and spirit. I am sorry that I distrusted the gift that God has already placed in the church so long. I pray the Lord to forgive me."