Confession of Past Wrongs
By J. B. LAMSON
BRO. SMITH: With your permission, I would like to occupy a little space in the REVIEW, in confessing the wrongs of my life in the past. By reproof that has been given me, I have been led to examine my heart more closely than I should have done had no testimony been given. I have to confess to my brethren and sisters and the world, that in my Christian experience I have come far short of living up to the profession that I have made. For about twenty-one years I have been looking for the coming of the Lord, and about sixteen years of the time have been a believer in the third angel's message, professing to keep the commandments of God. My life has not corresponded with my profession; I have failed to keep the two great precepts of the law. Love to God has been crowded out of my heart by the love of the world; and the love of the world has led me to deal in an unchristian, selfish manner; and the cause of God has suffered reproach by my wrong course. I ask forgiveness of my brethren and sisters, and all that have been injured by me, and I pray God to forgive me, and help me in the future to live up to the golden rule as taught by our Saviour: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them.” I pray him to help me to spend the rest of my life in his service, and be prepared to stand in the Judgment. “Yet does one short, preparing hour—
One precious hour—remain.” I want to improve it by divesting myself of wrongs, that I may have a clean record in the day of Judgment, and stand acquitted at the bar of God. From your unworthy brother. J. B. LAMSON.