4. Leonard Hastings

Faith demands actionPPP 30.1

Leonard and Elvira Hastings of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, previously Millerites, were among the earliest Sabbath keepers. Leonard Hastings wrote this letter to his church asking that his membership be discontinued because of his belief in the soon return of Christ.PPP 30.2

To the Orthodox Congregational Church at New Ipswich, N. H. Sept. 17, 1843PPP 30.3

Believing as I do that the Second Advent of the Lord in 1843 is plainly and clearly taught in the gospel and also that Christian perfection or sanctification is required of us in God’s Word and that in and through the atonement of the Lord Jesus there is ample provision made for our sanctification and full redemption in this world and knowing as I do that as a church you do regret and make light of these glorious truths and even say that men may go on sinning to Heaven and also that Christ cannot come in the clouds of Heaven these thousand years, I therefore feel it my duty in compliance with what God says by John the Revelator, “Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues,” do request of you that my name be erased from the church record as I shall no longer consider myself a member of your church. I feel that I do this in conformity to the requirements of the Great Head of the church, and now in His name I beseech you all not to make light any more of the coming of the blessed Lord for at the appointed time He will come and will not tarry; all the unbelief of the world will not stop Him, so do get ready by making a full consecration of yourselves to the living God, for as in the day of Noah so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.PPP 30.4

Yours in the belief of the coming of Christ in 1843.PPP 31.1

Leonard Hastings
—Leonard Hastings’ original letter is preserved in the Heritage Room, Del E. Webb Memorial Library, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California.