DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I wish to say for the encouragement of all God's true commandment-keepers, that the little church in this place are holding fast to the present truth, and God is truly with us. Our meetings on the Sabbath, and our weekly prayer-meetings, are deeply interesting. Never did the light of present truth shine so brilliantly among us as at the present time. We are trying to keep down in the vale of humility at the foot of the cross.
There seems to be that spirit of love and union among us which is not to be found only among those whose delight is in the law of the Lord and in the keeping of all his commandments.
We believe that the message of the third angel is slowly but surely rising. There seems to be a steady and increasing interest among those who are fully resolved, come what will, to hold on their way. It certainly is true that we have enemies, and bitter ones; "but if the Lord be for us who shall be against us?" If we have the spirit of Christ, we shall love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us. This is the true spirit of the gospel of the meek and lowly Jesus, who we believe is soon coming to redeem his pledge, and take his weary and tried ones home. But we sometimes feel to say in the language of David, "Rid me and deliver me from the hand of strange children whose mouth speaketh vanity and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood." Ps. cxiv, 11.
That day will most assuredly come when all those who love and practice the truth will safely anchor in the harbor of eternal repose: "there the wicked cease from troubling; and the weary are at rest." Job. iii, 17.
The brethren and sisters here came together on the last evening of the old year to celebrate the ordinances of the Lord's house, and it was truly a heart-cementing time; a time which we shall long remember. O who would not be among such a people as this, even though the floods of persecution are poured in upon us a thousand times more severe than ever. But ah, our persecutions! what are they? they are nothing worth mentioning compared with the persecutions of God's little flock in bygone ages. But we are looking forward to a time when the dragon's wrath will be stirred up, and when he will go forth to make a more severe war upon the remnant than he has ever yet made. O brethren and sisters, who of us shall stand at our post when that time comes? We have now entered upon a new year, and, I ask, who among my dear brethren and sisters are willing with me to renew their covenant, and dedicate themselves anew to the service of God? Have we not spoken many words during the past year which have displeased the Lord? Have we not had many vain thoughts during the past year? Have our actions at all times corresponded with our profession? I fear that we are none of us what we should be. O let us arise and bestir ourselves and work for God while the day lasts. We have one year less to work in the vineyard. We are one year nearer the port of endless rest. The signs are thickening all around us, and on every hand, which proclaim that the coming of the Lord is near. A proud, haughty, popular church, with false teachers and leaders at their head, is just now in the condition that the Scriptures teach it would be in, when our Lord comes. We have only to look around us in this day of false revivals and reformations, and we shall at once see the state and condition of Zion.
The Lord says to his true ministers by the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, "Cry aloud spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet and show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins." The professed ministers of Jesus Christ in this day, even in these last days, dare not to do it. They have become so proud, so popular, so much in love with the world and an applauding community, that they dare not expose the multiplied sins of the present day, or even those of which some of the members of their churches are verily guilty.
Among the numerous sins of which church members are awfully guilty in the sight of God at this175present day, take for instance the sin of pride. Who are these who train along our side-walks on a Sunday morning at the sound of their bell, clothed in such costly array? Are they going to hear a pure gospel proclaimed? Nay verily he dare not preach to them the truth. Suppose he were to preach to them the truth of the Bible, and point out their sins with as much plainness of speech as St. Paul did. He would tell them to go home and take off their artificials, those curls, those ear-rings, those finger-rings, and all those needless ornaments which are not becoming to the followers of the meek and lowly Jesus.
But so it is with fallen Babylon in these last days of apostasy. Sunday after Sunday do they appear in the house of worship, and by their pastor are never reproved or rebuked for their sins. Well may they go on and think they are making rapid strides towards heaven, while they are being fed by such ministers as these. They are truly blind leaders of the blind. A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land. The prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so, and what will ye do in the end thereof? Jer. v, 30, 31.
Our feelings should be those of pity and sympathy for those who are resolved to reject the light of truth which so intimately concerns us in these last days. But, dear brethren and sisters, let us every one try and live before an ungodly world of sinners and fallen, corrupt church members in such a way that we shall not give the lie to our profession.
Yours looking for Jesus. S. B. WARREN. Battle Creek, Mich., Jan. 12th, 1855.