p. 47 | Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 5, 1864

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. J. Banks writes from Oakfield, Mich.: I would be glad to tell the brethren and sisters my feelings of thankfulness to the Lord, but language will not express them. He has been very good to me and mine. I have been greatly strengthened by the labors of Bro. Andrews and Byington, on their late tour in Michigan. May God bless them and all his other messengers.

Bro. P. Strong, Jr., writes from Pine Grove Mills, Mich.: At our last monthly meeting in Allegan, my mind was carried forward to the time when all the saints shall come up from the four quarters of the earth made new, monthly, i. e., from one new moon to another, Isaiah lxvi, 23, to worship God. And what is still better, the much-despised Sabbath will be there; for they shall also come up from Sabbath to Sabbath, and immortalized saints, who have tried to keep it, will honor him who has saved them in their obedience. And all will be in unison with the great Head. And as we have the privilege of partaking of the fruit of the tree of life, each heart will beat with gratitude to God for his fulfilled promise. Brethren, this is worth striving for. And may we, as we draw near home, feel a deeper interest in the message, and a deeper consecration before God.

Bro. C. Ruiter writes from Cowansville: We are not members of the Seventh-day Adventist church, but wish to do something for the advancement of the truth. We have never heard a regular course of lectures from any connected with you, but have listened to quite a number of detached discourses, and read several of your books, which makes us interested in the views you advocate, and desirous to be found with the remnant that keep the "commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."

We have no Sabbath preaching in our vicinity or hardly within our reach.

I expected to have seen Bro. A. or D. T. Bourdeau and Hutchins before now, as they kindly visited us last summer; and offered to come and spend a few days, or weeks, with us when they were sent for. But for lack of faith and exertion, together with sickness in the neighborhood which still continues, they have not been sent for. There are several besides ourselves that would appreciate a visit from some of the Lord's Messengers, while others choose to follow the priests, described in Eze. xxii, 26. I greatly desire to hear the word of God spoken in its purity to our neighbors or in this vicinity and hope a request will be made in time, that we may be remembered.

Bro. J. Nichols writes from La Porte City, Iowa: Why is it there is so much said against the law of God? Is it not because Satan rules the mind of the people, and is leading them on in rebellion against the God of Heaven? But God has not left us without a chance to be reconciled to him. He has given his Son to die for us, that by believing him and accepting salvation through him, we might be brought again into God's favor, which we have lost by breaking his law. This is enough to convince the candid that God's law is not abolished, repealed, or changed, but still exists in all its force and beauty.

Bro. A. Hayes writes from Little Prairie, Wis.: The perils of the last days are upon us. Dark and heavy clouds are arising, which indicate the coming of a dreadful storm; and whatever preparation we need to stand the storm, must be made immediately. I pray the Lord to help us to open our eyes to these things, and examine ourselves closely, to see if we are in the faith or not.

Bro. A. Vansyoc writes from Sandyville, Iowa: We, as a church, are still striving to do our Lord's will. I think southern Iowa is in a more prosperous condition than they have been for two years previous.