Report from Bro. Fuller.
By N. Fuller
Bro. White : As it has been some time since I have written to the dear saints through the Review, I conclude to give you a brief report of my labors, and the state of the cause. I have labored considerably in Allegany Co., N. Y., to try to bring the church into the unity of the faith. We have had to work against a distracting influence; but victory has turned on the side of truth, and our labor has not been in vain in the Lord. We are trying to carry on the work of organization in the different churches in Pennsylvania, knowing it is our only remedy for a state of confusion and distraction into which we have been thrown by following our own counsel against the counsel of God. Organization is doing that for us which nothing else could. Those who think more of their filthy habits, and superfluities of dress, vain ornaments, and those things that dishonor God, grieve his holy Spirit, and those angels which are sent to minister to those that shall be heirs of salvation, than they do of the blessed hope, the company of the dear saints, the commandments of God and testimony of Jesus Christ (which is the spirit of prophecy), or eternal life in that blessed world where there is no more death, can have their choice. It will be said, They are "joined to their idols, let them alone." If they will sell their birthright for a mess of pottage, God will let them; but by and by they will find no space for repentance. But our object should be to get rid of those things that displease God, and save the honest. I attended the State Conference at Roosevelt, and there met our dear Bro. J. N. Andrews for the first time, and a number of others whom I have long desired to see. Trust our meeting was not in vain. Bro. Andrews has been doing a good work in Central N. Y. He has had a baneful influence to contend against in this part of the State. Some feel their wrongs and are trying to make amends. Others confess because they see there is no other way to get the approbation of God, and of his people, but at the same time do not see the depth of the wounds they have made in the cause of Christ, and get the sympathy of those who are against the order and work of God. This is the very way that leads to darkness, and if pursued, God will leave them in strong delusion. I am astonished at the course of some who say they have unshaken confidence in the first and second angels' messages, and that the third, last and solemn message is now going to the world, and say it soon will end, probation will end with it, and then turn and oppose and fight against those that are carrying forward what they acknowledge to be the last message of mercy to a perishing world; try to distract, scatter, and destroy those churches God is gathering by the solemn voice of the third angel. O, what heaven-daring sin! Out of their own mouths God will judge them. They are described in Jude 13-19. O, may each of us look well to our ways, and see that we are not found fighting against God and his truth. I gave seven lectures at East Genoa, Cayuga Co., N. Y., on my return. Those who came out to hear gave good attention. One Eld. Crandal undertook first to smooth it over by saying that he had preached the coming of the Lord twenty-five years, and believed it as much as I. But anything that would get his neighbors converted he would say amen to. But still he failed to see that it was near at hand; thought it was many, many years in the future; thought it was our duty to prepare for death, and not trouble ourselves so much about the coming of the Lord. I applied Matt. xxiv, 48-57, "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." When I introduced the prophecies, he was silent. But when the law of God and Sabbath were introduced, it stirred the spirit we so often meet. The last evening he was there, he talked until several young lads, and some not so young, went into the entry and made the whole house ring with their boots on the floor, and others rapped on the windows, and two spoke out and told him they did not want to hear such abuse. Those that spoke were professors of religion. I had but a few books with me. They were all taken that evening, and more spoken for. The harvest truly is great, and the laborers are few. Are God's people prepared to take hold of the work in good earnest? If so, let us organize, so as to be one, east, west, north, and south, and as one man, push forward this last and solemn message. Let us unitedly take hold of the plan of systematic benevolence, that there may be means to carry forward this great and glorious cause. I have just returned from Smithport, McKean Co., Pa., where there is great need of order in the church. Unless the church is brought into order in that county, there will be no more growth of spirituality. After the subject of the unity of the church was presented, a vote was taken and carried almost unanimously, that the church should be one. Will the brethren in that county take hold of this work in good earnest? If so, they shall have all the aid I can give them, promptly. I see a lack in regard to reading matter in families. Brethren, can you not take the Review? You certainly can. You can raise two dollars; if not, you can have it for one. Every thorough Sabbath-keeping family can be supplied with this organ of truth on the terms given in the paper. Young Sabbath-keepers get much discouraged when they see how dilatory those are who have long professed the faith. How long shall they be so? O God, stir thy people to a new engagedness in this glorious cause! is my prayer.