EDWIN C. STILES by Edwin C. Stiles

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Dec 23, 1862

EDWIN C. STILES

By Edwin C. Stiles

From Bro. Stiles.

Bro. White: I am glad that as time progresses I find myself with you more heartily in the truth, and instead of regarding with distrust your efforts in visiting the churches and ordaining elders and setting in order things that are wanting, you have my most hearty sympathy in the work. Churches of God have been suffering in all parts for want of this very thing, and when I consider my past sentiments on this and many other points of vital importance to the body, I am both astonished and ashamed that I ever possessed so much enmity against God, as to entertain them; albeit I did so in sincerity. I am glad the foundation of the Lord's house is being laid, and the priests are being set in order with their trumpets to give the "certain sound" while the builders go forward with the work which will surely prosper in their hands, as surely as God is not the author of confusion, but of peace and order, as in all the churches of the saints.

By the grace of God, from henceforward I will accept no pretensions to spirituality or purity that are not in sympathy and harmony with, and in subjection to, this work. Not but that some honest souls, blinded by the depths of Satan, may for a brief time be led captive at his will in opposition to those whom God has commanded them to not only know, but to esteem very highly for their works' sake; but when we are right ourselves, our sympathies will not be on the side of Satan, so that we forward his devices more than the work of God.

I feel assured that the days upon which we have fallen are so evil and extremely perilous to the church that God will regard her as the apple of his eye; and woe unto those in her midst who raise the standard of rebellion against the choice of Jehovah as to who shall minister before him after he has once signified his choice by his manifest power. All who thus persist in following Dathan and Abiram, will find a memorial in the cases of those sinners, and a similar fate awaits their stubborn course; for in the sight of God "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry."

Concerning the church in this place, I could write many excellent things, which in part are already known to you, for the good works of some are manifest beforehand, and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. We look forward with glad anticipation to the time when the Lord will by his servants "set in order things that are wanting" in this place, and a good work begin to the honor of the cause we profess to love. O may we love it, for it is worthy of our love, and show our love by our works.

EDWIN C. STILES

Portland, Me.