DEAR BRO. WHITE:—It is truly cheering to the hearts of those who believe that we are now living in the time of the third angel's message, to read the testimonies of the scattered remnant through the Review, and of the increasing interest of the present truth.—The second and third messages appear to be bringing out the honest Christians from the churches, and separating them from the workers of iniquity, that they may serve the true and living God, who created all things. Though those who are willing to obey his law may have to pass through the furnace of affliction, it will only serve to purify them, even as gold is tried in the fire, and the dross separated from the fine gold. And we know that if our doctrine is based on the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, though storms of persecution and trials may come, yet we cannot be moved; for we are built on a rock.
Yes, blessed be his holy name, he has said, my grace shall be sufficient for thee. I have great reason to praise the Lord that he ever gave me a heart to search the scriptures for myself.
It is about sixteen years since I professed to love the Lord, and I have often found myself in a backsliden state, not knowing whither I was traveling.—And when I saw the corrupt state of the churches, I was almost led to believe that God had not a people on the earth that served him; for I read that his children had always been a persecuted people. We have great reason to thank the Lord that he has a remnant that will obey God rather than man. I can now say with the Psalmist: "Thou art my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep thy words. I entreated thy favor with my whole heart; be merciful unto me according unto thy word. I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments."
Yours in patient waiting for the coming kingdom,
SARAH J. VOORUS.
June 25th, 1853.
THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE.
By Marcia S. Avery
BY MARCIA S. AVERY.
HAIL glorious day! ere long to dawn
And set death's captives free;
Triumphant then will they come forth,
With shouts of victory.
And when my Saviour shall appear,
If in the grave I lie,
The last loud trumpet I shall hear
And live, no more to die.
It is enough, although I close,
In death, my weary eyes,
In that bright morn, my Lord to see,
And meet him in the skies.
'Tis then, and not at death, he'll give
To me the unfading crown,
And not till then, I expect to live
Immortal with the Son.
'Tis not in death, I hope to share
The presence of my King,
Or while in death, receive the crown
Or with the blood-washed sing;
But in the Resurrection morn
I shall his face behold—
'Tis then my Lord to me will give
The starry crown of gold.
The righteous dead, shall then awake,
And break the chains of death.
Their dark abodes with joy forsake,
Receive immortal breath.
Glory to God, hosannah sing
To Christ, our living Head—
He died and rose that he might bring
His children from the dead.
Tho' long they've slumbered in the dust,
The day at last has come,
When Jesus bids his faithful burst
The bondage of the tomb.
And now in Life, with him we'll reign
Walk with the saints in white,
Forever freed from mortal pain,
We'll range the fields of light.
The living saints, that patient wait,
That do his just commands,
Will enter then the pearly gate
Made not by human hands.
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard"
The joys they will behold,
When in the New Jerusalem,
They strike their harps of gold.
Locke, Mich., July 4th, 1853.
Striving for the Kingdom
By Marcia S. Avery
From Sister Avery.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—We are still striving for the kingdom, in Locke. The truth is yet dear to us, and precious to our souls. Bro. Case left here a few days since. He tarried with us three days, and presented the truth so clear, that a child might comprehend it. The house was well filled with attentive hearers.—The interest to hear the truth is increasing around us. There are more that seem desirous to hear the third angel's message, and have sent an invitation, for Bro. Case to deliver a course of lectures in their town.—They appear deeply interested in the message, and I trust they will yet become firmly established in the commandments of God, and the faith of his Son. It does my soul good to hear others inquiring the way to the golden City. O what a glorious home is prepared for those who love God, and obey his law. O that I could love him enough,—that I could serve him better. Often when I look at my own heart, and behold its imperfections, I can but say, unclean, unclean. I know that I must be pure and perfectly holy, or I can never enter that peaceful rest. God cannot look upon sin with allowance, and I often think,
"Shall such a worthless worm as I,
Who sometimes am afraid to die,
Be found at thy right hand."
But I am striving daily to overcome every unholy passion and to "bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." What precious promises for those that overcome, are recorded in the Word. O should we not be willing to deny ourselves of worldly and vain pleasures, and suffer anything, for the sake of him who died for us. "If we suffer we shall also reign with him, and "if we confess him before men, he will also confess us before his Father." Should we not love that Being in whom we confide, on whom our all depends. May we all prove faithful to the end; and at last receive the promise, even eternal life.
MARCIA S. AVERY.
Locke, Mich., July, 1853.
Faithful Unto the Coming of Christ
By Maranda McLellan
From Sr. McLellan.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—For the first time I have the opportunity of writing on the coming of our Lord.—It is but a few weeks since I embraced the present truth. The Lord has blessed me many times. It rejoices my soul to hear from the brethren and sisters who are traveling on the road that leads to the glorious Kingdom. My prayer is that we may all be faithful to the coming of our Saviour. We must have on the whole armor, and keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus. Though we have troubles and trials here below, yet we feel to persevere, in the hope of wearing the crown that fadeth not away.
Yours in hope of the soon coming of the Saviour.
MARANDA MCLELLAN.
Hastings, Mich., July 1st, 1853,
A Company Established in the Truth
By Moses Dennis
From Bro. Dennis.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—It is through the goodness of God, that I ever heard of the present truth; and sweet is the consolation which it affords.
Brn. Waggoner and Stewart, were here in May, and gave a number of lectures. The Lord has raised up a number in this place, who begin to believe the whole truth, and to obey the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. We have now a company of about twelve, who are established in the present truth; and others are still investigating.
Yours in hope, MOSES DENNIS. Waukau, Wennebago Co., Wis., June 20th, 1853.
Appointments.
Grove Meeting at Catlin.—Providence permitting, there will be a Grove Meeting in Catlin, Martin's Hill, N. Y., to commence Sabbath, July 23d, and continue over First-day.
WM. S. INGRAHAM.
Providence permitting, we will hold meetings with the brethren as follows:—Union, Wis., Sabbath and First-day, July 23d and 24th; Oak Hill, the 30th and 31st; Alden, Ill.—a Conference—August 6th and 7th; Kingsbury, Ind., as Bro. J. Catlin may appoint, August 20th and 21st; Salem,—a Conference—the 27th and 28th; Jackson, Mich., evening of the 31st; Sylvan, evening of Sept. 1st.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
M. E. CORNELL.
Letters.
R. Moran, Wm. S. Ingraham, J. R. Towle, M. E. Kellogg, H. S. Case, H. M. Ayres, G. W. Holt, O. Nichols, J. M. McLellan, H. C. Mason, A. Avery, E. Everts, J. B. Frisbie, J. Bates, J. Stillman, E. M. Barrows, D. Arnold.
Receipts.
A. White, Geo. Mathews, N. Claflin, H. Patten, E. Day, E. Temple, R. Coggswell, O. Davis, A. Kellogg, R. Gool, R. Dunham. J. Pittsworth, J. Cayars, C. Sisson, J. Birdlebough, O. Holcomb, L. Martin, U. Colby, M. C. Andrews, each $1.
B. B. Brigham, S. J. Voerus, H. Edson, each, $2.
R. Martin, S. Martin, P. Carpenter, each 50 cents; Wm. Dawson, M. Kellogg, each 25 cents.—One hundred and thirteen dollars behind, on the REVIEW.
AGENTS.
MAINE.
N. N. Lunt, Portland.
S. W. Flanders, Canaan.
Cyprian Stevens, Paris.
S. Howland, Topsham.
W. T. Hanniford, Orrington.
Wm. Bryant, Wilton.NEW HAMPSHIRE.
J. Stowell, Washington.
S. Bunnell, Claremont.MASSACHUSETTS.
H. Flower, Ashfield.
O. Nichols, Dorchester.
O. Davis, N. Fairhaven.
L. Paine, Ware.
Wm. Saxby, Springfield.VERMONT.
R. Loveland, Johnson.
H. Bingham, Morristown.
S. H. Peck, Wolcott.
Lewis Bean, Hardwick.
H. A. Churchill, Stowe.
E. P. Butlor, Waterbury.
Josiah Hart, Northfield.
R. G. Lockwood, Waitsfield.
W. Morse, East Bethel.
L. Titus, E. Charlston.
Alonzo Lee, Derby Line.
E. Everts, Vergennes.
H. Gardner, Panton.
S. Willey, Wheelock.CONNECTICUT.
E. H. Chamberlain, Md'town.
A. Belden, Kensington.NEW YORK.
W. S. Ingraham, Bath.
A. Ross, Caughdenoy.
David Upson, Moreland.
R. F. Cottrell, Mill Grove.
John Wager, Orangeport.
L. Carpenter, Oswego.
A. H. Robinson, Sandy Creek.
E. A. Poole, Lincklaen.
J. A. Loughhead, Elmira.MICHIGAN.
Albert Avery, Locke.
J. P. Kellogg, Tyrone.
Ira Gardner, Vergennes.
David Hewett, Battle Creek.
Isaiah Rathbone, Eagle Lake.
C. S. Glover, Sylvan.
A. B. Pearsall, Grand Rapids.PENNSYLVANIA.
M. L. Dean, Ulysses.