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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 10, 1861

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 19, No. 2.

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Extracts from Letters.

Sr. L. B. Abbey writes from Hubbardsville, N. Y.: "It cheers my heart to read the columns of the Review, and it produces a stronger attachment and love for those who are watching and waiting for the return of their Lord. I feel a strong and increasing desire to lie low at the feet of the blessed Redeemer, and learn more perfectly the way in which I must walk to be made meet for that abode where angels dwell. O, how it becomes me to seek meekness, and continually cling to the bleeding side of the dear Saviour. 'The meek shall inherit the earth.' 'The meek will be guide in judgment.' My constant prayer is, O Lord, show me what there is still remaining about me that is not brought in subjection to thy holy and righteous will.
"I feel truly to thank the name of the Lord that he still lengthens out my days and has not forsaken me, but visits me by his holy spirit, and breathes into my heart a spirit of praise to his excellent name.
"Dear brethren and sisters scattered far and wide, lift up your heads, your redemption is near, and very soon the accuser of the brethren will be cast down. We are to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. O for overcoming faith that will enable us to overcome the world, and gain the victory over our enemies.
"Our enemies are strong. They boast themselves, but not in the name of the Lord, therefore they shall not prevail. Well may the children of God say with the servants of old, 'The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation,' and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.'
"It is certain the Lord will save us from our enemies if we hold fast to his testimonies. Let us be of that number who shall take heed to our ways according to the word of the Lord; then shall we be cleansed from all unrighteousness; then we can boast ourselves in the Lord; then shall we rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks. Though we may be passing through the ordeal that is to purify us, yet we shall rejoice. I feel to praise the name of the Lord for all his mercies and goodness to me; that he has not yet left me to myself, nor in the hands of the enemy.'
"Brethren, pray for me, that I may still watch, wait, and pray, until called for by the Master, who will say to all the faithful, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you."
Bro. and Sr. Love write from Barkwoods, Wis.: "DEAR BRO. AND SR. WHITE: Although we have never seen you but once, yet we know your works and untiring labors of love; and we feel it a duty as well as a privilege to tell you how thankful we are for what you have endured.
"It is a little over eight years since we commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and embraced, as we supposed, the third angel's message. We were ready to make any sacrifice for the truth, but we soon learned that our teachers were not in union with the Review, and this we saw increased until the Messenger party arose. We then felt like standing alone, and retiring from strife. In this, we now see, we did not do right. We should have stood firmly for God's truth and for his people; and we here wish to make a full acknowledgment to you before God, of our slowness of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. We have not regarded the gifts of the church in the important light that we should.
"We are very thankful to you for your labors of love to your fellow mortals, especially the publishing of Spiritual Gifts. We cannot read in volume second without shedding tears of joy and grief. We are grieved at your trials, and glad that you have endured them so nobly, for by this we have been brought to see the light of present truth. And when you are wading through trials deep, remember that our prayers are daily rising to heaven for you.
"As the subject of organization has been agitated, we wish to give a little of our experience in the matter. We embraced the Sabbath under the labors of Bro. Phelps, and have made very slow progress, and feel unworthy, but we are still trying to overcome. When Bro. P. first came into Barkwoods, he came, I believe, in sincerity, and preached the third angel's message as he understood it. His labors seemed to be prospered, and there was a church raised up in this vicinity, which numbered about fifty. Our meetings were lively and spirited for a time. Bro. P. preached that the nominal churches were Babylon, and if we were organized into a church, we should become a part of it. This we generally believed. The different messengers in Wisconsin visited us frequently, and preached the same thing. Soon trials commenced, and there was an attempt to settle them, but with little profit. As trials became more prevalent, the old maxim held good, that what is everybody's business is nobody's. The messenger party came up, and many partook freely of its scattering influence. We were presently in a perfect Babylon ourselves. The interest died away in the meetings, preaching ceased, and the meetings were given up. Here we were in a confused state. We were like sheep turned into the wilderness without a shepherd.
"Time passed on in this way until Bro. Sanborn came to Little Prairie, some ten miles from here. The subject of organization was presented, and we saw it was right. Bro. and Sr. Robbins and ourselves united with them in church fellowship. The straight testimony we consider meat in due season. We believe that the gifts of the church are absolutely necessary in these last days, to unite the people of God on a firm platform, that they might stand shoulder to shoulder to resist the fiery darts of the enemy.
"Pray for us, that we may ever be found in the path of duty."
Bro. A. G. Carter writes from Rubicon, Dodge Co., Wis.: "Dear Bro. White: I am much interested in the subject of Organization as presented by yourself and others through the columns of the Review. At the introduction of that subject, I was of the same mind as Bro. R. F. C. But after examining all the arguments in favor of legal organization, I am fully persuaded that you are right, and therefore endorse your views freely. I am also very much interested in the Conference Address, published in Review, Vol. xviii, No. 20; also the testimony in No. 21, under the heading of Organization, meets my mind. You have there plainly set forth the necessity of union in the churches. It reminds me of one Sabbath-keeper who said, 'I don't think we shall ever be of one mind and one heart while in this mortal state.' But such a view to my mind would make our Lord's prayer, John xvii, unavailable, and also the teachings of the apostles on that subject. See Rom. xii, 16; xv, 5; 2 Cor. xiii, 11; Phil. ii, 2; iii, 16; 1 Pet. iii, 8; 1 Cor. i, 10. If such passages of scripture as these do not teach that we should be of one heart and mind, then I know not what language can be made to teach it.
"I have been a Sabbath-keeper for more than seven years, and a firm believer in the three angel's messages, and am fully persuaded that the Lord is leading out his people.
"My heart rejoices when I read in the Review of measures being taken for more permanent organization, and for union in the churches. I pray that the time may soon come when we all shall be one as the Father and Son are one. See the Lord's prayer, in John xvii, especially verses 11 and 22.
"I regard the law of the Lord as being perfect. Ps. xix, 7, like its great Author; and if we keep it we shall also be perfect. 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.' Matt. v, 48. In comparing my life with the word of God and testimonies for the church, I have found myself imperfect, yet I am not discouraged, but mean to strive for it. The words of the apostle, Heb. vi, 1, are addressed to the followers of Christ: 'Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.' This shows that it is a progressive work, and our Saviour says, 'Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.' John vi, 37. I am determined to come unto the Lord by taking heed unto all his testimonies, that I may not be cast out; but be perfected with all his saints, and share in the glorious inheritance. My heart beats in union with the Lord's people, and I rejoice to learn through the Review that they are taking measures to come up on higher and holier ground. I remain yours in much love for the whole truth."
Sr. P. D. Lawrence writes from Falmouth, Mass., Nov. 19, 1861: "I attended an evening Methodist meeting in South Boston. They seemed full of the good Spirit, praising God, so much so that I felt tried with myself. The minister told them he hoped they would all work for God,—ever so little would call down the blessing. Remember, said he, those who by blowing the rams' horns brought down the walls of Jericho.
"After he had finished speaking I arose and told him I was happy to hear that subject spoken of, for it was one I delighted in. But the walls did not fall at the blowing of the rams' horns only, but by obeying the command of God to follow the ark which contained the ten commandments which were still binding, and would be till heaven and earth passed away. And I was happy to hear so many praising God and the blessed Jesus, for every thing denoted his speedy coming in his kingdom to redeem us from the time of trouble so near. And that John said, this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and they are not grievous, and by this we were to know when we loved the children of God, if we loved God and kept his commandments. What shall we do with this Scripture?
"The minister said, 'Sit down! I don't want such subjects brought into this meeting. This is a social meeting.' I told him I would ask his forgiveness if I had offended him by presenting the Scriptures. He made many excuses because he disliked the views, &c. An old man arose and said the kingdom was set up in his heart. The minister responded, 'Amen! that is a good place for it.' But I thought it a narrow location for the saints of God. Darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people truly, and yet so full of light and love. If the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness. So saith Jesus."
Sister E. E. Root writes from Victor, N. Y.: "I became interested in present truth by reading a few papers [the Review] lent me by a friend. Those lent me contained a piece called the Saints' Inheritance. I read them, and borrowed more. I had been a believer in the destruction of the wicked and unconsciousness of the dead, three years. I have received the Review weekly since March, 1860, through the kindness of friends, for which I am grateful. They will not lose their reward. It is all the meeting I have."
Sister M. A. Streeter writes from Pulaski, N. Y.: "I still put my trust in the Lord, and my heart is full of gratitude for what the Lord is doing for his people in bringing them into order. I believe it is the work of the Lord. My prayer is that I may be a fit member of that church which is written in heaven."
Bro. Wm. M. Allen writes from Cleveland, Min.: "There have five little churches been organized, according to the organization address, in Minnesota; and as far as I have been able to learn, they all acknowledge an increase of interest and confidence. May the Lord bless them in their onward course. May God grant that we may have a zeal according to knowledge, and that we may be one in deed and in truth. And my humble prayer is that those upon whom the care and burden of the churches has rested, may be sustained by the love and sympathy of their brethren, and the power of the Holy Spirit."
Bro. L. Martin writes from Bennington, N. H.: "I still read the Review and Herald with pleasure, and I trust with profit. We have had many good meetings at Wilton and other places the past season. The brethren and sisters here in New Hampshire, as far as I know, are well united as regards organization. We believe the time has fully come when there should be order in the church. We sympathize with you and sister White in your arduous labors. May the Lord strengthen you and prepare you for what is yet before you. I do feel that we are living in a very solemn time. May the Lord help us all to be faithful to the end, that we may have everlasting life, is the prayer of your unworthy brother."