LETTERS | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 24, 1862

LETTERS.

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

From Bro. Hebner.

BRO. WHITE: I have not lost my hope, but am strong in the third angel's message. The signs of the times fully indicate the time near when all the dear saints will meet in a better clime than this. My heart beats in union with all the dear saints, and in love to God that he ever showed me the last message of mercy ever to be given to the world. O how thankful I am that the Lord sent Bro. Bates to Canada to show us the truth of the third angel's message, that teaches the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Dear brethren and sisters, my desire is that I may live near to God, and be a perfect overcomer through the blood of Christ. I feel lonely, there being no one here of like precious faith; but I praise God for his truth that unites the hearts of God's people together as the heart of one man, waiting the coming of his Son.

Yours truly, waiting for redemption through the blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

J. HEBNER.

Whitby P. O., C. W.

From Bro. Barr.

BRO. WHITE: Believing it to be very important in confessing faults to have the confession as extensive as the faults, I would ask for a place in the Review in order to reach some that I could not otherwise. In the first place I wish to say to the saints East that as my former confessions may not have reached all, I refer to some of them again.

I confess with deep regret the time and means I so unwisely spent in my hasty travels from place to place, much of which was worse than lost. I also confess my error in judgment, and lack of heavenly wisdom in my efforts to right the wrongs that have existed in the church, having thereby failed of accomplishing the desired object, leaving some in a worse condition than before. I deeply regret that I lived in these perilous days so much in the dark as to receive impressions as from the Lord when they were not, and more especially do I grieve for having countenanced the same in others. And I have to confess to the saints wherever I have been, that occasionally I have made remarks in public that were not sanctioned by the Spirit of God, and in private have failed greatly of having my words seasoned with grace at all times, so as to keep uppermost in the mind the solemn time in which we live.

And now, brethren, while for a long time I have sorrowed over the errors of my past life that have injured my own influence and that of others, I still feel determined to learn obedience and be wiser by the things I have suffered, and if possible work out my own salvation with fear and trembling, trusting wholly in that God who gives mercy to those that confess and forsake their sins. Forgive me as he for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

E. L. BARR.

P. S. I wish also to avow my perfect confidence in the gifts of the Spirit, and the testimonies given thereby, and likewise the present arrangement made by those to whom God has given charge of the work of righting up his church, and leading out his people for translation.

E. L. B.

From Bro. Macomber.

BRO. WHITE: I am quite anxious that the brethren in this section of the country, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, meet in general conference at some place where the brethren may appoint, that is, where there is a church of Seventh-day Adventists, or where there are a number of brethren. Will the brethren of the above-named States come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty? The cause of our dear Redeemer demands our faithful and mutual co-operation. Let him who despises the day of small things, so considered by the world, consider for a moment the words of Jehovah: "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

Come then, dear brethren, let us arouse and come up and meet together, and exhort one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching.

You who feel interested in this, please address me, or make an appointment through the Review and Herald, as soon as convenient. Let us in the name of the Lord attend to it.

E. MACOMBER.

Newport, R. I.

From Bro. Crandall.

BRO. WHITE: I would say to the dear brethren and sisters scattered abroad, that I am striving to live out the glorious truths of the third angel's message. It is necessary for us to obey this message if we would be prepared to stand in that holy throng who have the Father's name written in their foreheads. I love to hear from the messengers of truth from time to time, and the success of the message, and also from the dear saints scattered abroad, and I want my heart to be all engaged in the work, that I may bear some humble part here, and when Jesus comes be found among the translated ones.

Dear brethren and sisters, the exhortation is to us to prove faithful; for yet a little while and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Heb. x, 36, 37.

DE WITT CRANDALL.

Lyons, Wis.

From Bro. Wilcox.

BRO. WHITE: The Lord is blessing his people here in Mannsville. One reason is, we are advancing in the work of organization, which is according to Bible and reason. A company is being brought together, firmly united in all the truth, and love abounds. One great reason of the lack of union here for two years past, has been a difference of views with regard to the visions. For one I did not understand their exalted position with this people, hence I was left to oppose those that placed them where they belonged in the church. Therefore my influence, as far as I had any in the church, tended to hinder the work of the Lord. For this I am heartily sorry.

In the providence of the Lord I attended the conference at Roosevelt. After hearing Bro. Cornell go through with the subject of the gifts, the scales fell from my eyes. I now see that the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy, is to be held forth just as prominent as any part of the third message. The supper is ready, the table is spread, and upon it are the rich bounties of the third angel. I do see and feel that if ever I go through to the kingdom it will be by partaking of the truth as brought to us by the third angel. It is the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. But as to the testimony, for two years in the past I have taken what I supposed to be middle, or neutral, ground. I wish to say now that there is no such ground to take. We are either for or against.

More has been accomplished since the conference to effect union and brotherly love than for two years past. The work is truly of the Lord. The testimony of Jesus is being confirmed. The gloom and darkness that have long enshrouded God's people begin to pass away like the dew before the rising sun. To the Lord be all the praise.

Yours in love.

H. H. WILCOX.

Mannsville, N. Y.