p. 31 | Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 22, 1863

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. R. J. Lawrence writes from Memphis, Mich., Dec. 7, 1863: I came to Memphis last Friday. Met with the church Sabbath and evening at Bro. Philips.' A large attendance. Friends here are generally firm. Yesterday I visited several families. In the forenoon and afternoon went to the Congregational house, and heard a discourse, founded on Job xiv, 10. Parts of such texts were brought forward as best suited his position, such as the rich man and Lazarus, the thief on the cross, I am the God of Abraham, Paul's desire to depart, the souls under the altar, &c., and our positions held up to ridicule.

This morning I took an inspection of the meetinghouse. It is all inclosed, and the outside will be finished with one coat of painting in a few hours. The floor is all laid but fitting in the last piece. The lathing is commenced. I expect to stay here over two Sabbaths more.

Bro. C. E. Hahn writes from Fort Madison, Iowa: Dear reader, are you keeping the law of God? James says, He that offends in one point is guilty of all. Jas. ii, 10. Have you any idols that you love more than God? Do you ever take the name of the Lord in vain? There are many ways in which perhaps you may unconsciously do this. Do you ever desire to have a part of your rich neighbor's goods? Our hearts sometimes are very deceptive. Do you not sometimes rob the Lord of a little of his time by talking about your worldly business on the Sabbath, calculating how much you made in the last week, &c? Or do you not some times come home from your work a little too late to get ready for the Sabbath, and thus trespass upon the Lord's time? If so, you are violating two of the commandments. The Lord has given you six days to work, and reserved the seventh for himself; and you appropriate a part of that, and thus become guilty of violating two of the Lord's holy precepts. Some say, I am too poor; I can't always get ready; Sometimes I should lose a job if I should quit before sundown. Where is your confidence in God? Hear what David says: I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Ps. xxxvii, 25. If we are, in this way, commandment-breakers, let us get out of the way of others, by turning to the Lord with our whole hearts, or ceasing to make a profession. This is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John v, 3. I am striving to keep all the commandments, the Sabbath not excepted. I expect, if faithful, soon to see the inside of the city; for Christ is soon coming to receive those to himself that love God and keep his commandments. Christ says, Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Bro. M. W. Neal writes from Oceola, Iowa: I am still trying to live out all the light I have got, and to make my way through to the kingdom. There are four of us here in this neighborhood that meet together on the Sabbath-day to worship God. Although the health of some is very poor, yet we scarcely ever spend a Sabbath without meeting together to worship God.

Bro. A. D. Jones writes from Pontiac, Ills.: The Review is the only preacher of present truth that we have seen in three years, it being three years since we embraced the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus in Michigan, and then came West, where we have met with no one of like faith. Oh, what a pleasure it would be to have the privilege of meeting with the people of God upon the Sabbath, and hearing the truths of the word of God.

I wrote a letter last winter, which was published in the Review, requesting some minister of present truth to come this way, and if possible deliver a course of lectures, and also that my companion and myself might have an opportunity of being baptized. It seems to me that much good might be done here. Many admit the truth of the Sabbath, but are not willing to come out from the world and keep it. They admit that the signs of the times foretell the near coming of the Redeemer, yet they are making no preparations for it. Oh that God would rouse them up to a sense of their duty, and call his people forth from Babylon and prepare the way for the coming of our Lord, is my humble prayer.

Bro. J. Matteson writes from Poysippi, Wis.: I received some pamphlets from the Office not long ago, and I feel thankful for them. They have been a great help to me, under God's blessing, to give me a right understanding of present truth. At present I am lecturing on these glorious truths, every other Sunday, in two different places. In one place I preach in English, and the other in Danish. We expect Bro. Sanborn to come up here the last part of January, and I hope then to receive some further information from him, respecting the last message of mercy.

Last Sunday, one of my countrymen urged me very hard to come over to his neighborhood to preach. It is not very far from here, and a place thickly settled with Danes. He said that the people were languishing for want of truth, and I made up my mind to go there and deliver a course of lectures in the beginning of next month.

Bro. L. R. Chapel writes from E. Palermo, N. Y.: Our monthly meeting was held at Roosevelt, Dec. 5 and 6. Bro. C. O. Taylor was with us. I think the Lord helped him in presenting the truth, and it was meat in due season, and will be the means of doing good to those present if they heed his instructions, and lay the truth to heart. As his discourses were of a practical nature, and for the church, it was thought best not to have any public appointment given out. I think the church here will be profited by his labor.