Responsive Words by M. W. Howard

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 12, 1866

Responsive Words.

By M. W. Howard

THE Review is ever a welcome visitor to me. It comes week by week, as a feast of good things to my hungry soul. Was No. 24 more interesting than usual, or was I in a more appreciative mood? Perhaps this was the case, for several of the articles seemed to strike a vibrating chord that I desired to send back a responsive echo. With another will “I speak that I may be refreshed,” for do I not also know, that “he that sends (or rather permits) the storm prepares the refuge;”—yes, “the name of the Lord is a strong tower, into which the righteous runneth and are safe.” Safe and peaceful, though the enemies within do often betray us, and the enemies without do often wound us. For who has not felt the power of misapprehension and misrepresentation to sting? Alas! Why must so many fiery darts be shot at our poor aching hearts? An answer is suggested which to me brought comfort and refreshment?

“I will purely purge away thy dross and take away thy tin.” Isa. i, 25. And how shall this be done?”

“He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Mal. iii, 3. This passage often fails to convey to the mind its full import, through ignorance of the process of refining silver. A silver refiner was once asked wherein lay the peculiar appropriateness of that text? He replied, “I sit over the crucible containing the molten metal stirring and agitating it, removing every particle of scum and foreign matter as it appears on the surface, till I can see my face reflected from it, when I know that all the dross is removed.” Aye, Christian, how few of us reflect the image of our Maker; then bear patiently our shakings and agitations, for according to the sacred teachings they are the process by which our dross is to be purged away. It was the curse of Moab, to be “settled upon his lees, and not emptied from vessel to vessel.” Complain not then, if foes without and foes within jostle us on our way, even though our doings are misrepresented and our motives misconstrued. All these things hurt our sensitive hearts in the passing, but shall they not work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory? Yes, they will; if “they yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness,” and teach us to “let patience have her perfect work,” remembering how “Christ endured such contradictions from sinners against himself.” “It is enough that the disciple be as his Lord,” says Christ.

But must we with shame confess that sometimes we fail to manifest that forbearance and meekness under calumny and reproach, that becomes us? “Nevertheless, afterward” (for so the text reads) “it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby.” Even this is a progressive work; and let us remember who it is that “sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.” M. W. HOWARD. Malone, N. Y., May, 1866.