The Morning Cometh by R. F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1866

The Morning Cometh.

By R. F. Cottrell

DARKNESS covers the earth, and gross darkness the people; and it seems as if the darkness was growing denser and denser still. Iniquity abounds, and the love of many is growing cold. The world and the professed church present a dark picture for our contemplation; but they are only filling up the outline given before in prophecy. Satan is permitted to bring his power to bear against the truth, and against those who hold it. But there is a limit to his power. When God gave his servant Job into his power, it was with this reserve: "but save his life." And so it is at present. The lives of the servants of God are not given into the power of Satan. The Lord has a work for them to do, and though the enemy may be permitted to afflict, he can not take away their lives—they will live to accomplish their work.

Amid the moral darkness of the world, we have seen by faith in God's word that the morning is coming, the Lord is about to come and save his people. There are true-hearted Christians who are trying to penetrate the darkness, and get a glimpse of the morning light. They begin to see unmistakable signs of the coming morning. The watchman saith the morning cometh, and also the night. The Lord is coming to save his people and destroy his enemies. It will be morning to the former, and night to the latter. The Lord is represented by the prophet as saying upon this occasion, "The day of vengeance is in my heart, the year of my redeemed is come."

The Lord is on the side of his people whom he is preparing for the advent. He is delivering his servants

that have been oppressed by the Devil. Morning is breaking. The latter rain is coming. The powers of darkness cannot long prevail to hold in check the final work of the Lord. The Lord will work for the deliverance of all those who are living up to the light given. Let us heed all the teachings of the Lord; cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. Then the beaming light of the coming morning will shine upon us in all its splendor, and our pathway shall be as the shining light, which shineth more and more, even to the perfect day.

Could we realize how willing the Lord is to help us in the way of well-doing, we should take courage to labor on in this good cause of the Lord; and we would not displease him by distrusting his faithfulness and love. He is waiting to be gracious. He desires to bless us. Let us prepare ourselves to receive his blessing. Let us cleanse the temple, that he may come in and dwell with us. He is faithful that has promised, who also will do it.

R. F. COTTRELL.