An Exhortation by R. F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1866

An Exhortation.

By R. F. Cottrell

The position we occupy in the closing hours of probationary time, is made clear by the sure word of prophecy. All that is necessary to satisfy ourselves that we are in the time of the last message of probation, is to examine the plain, unmistakable prophecies of the Bible—the conclusion is inevitable. But when all this is acknowledged, the work of preparation for the events that lie before us, is but just begun. The Son of God will soon come in the glory of his Father, in his own glory, and that of all the holy angels—he will come to save his people and clothe them with immortality, and bring them home to his Father's house—but who shall abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? It is well to ask the question now, while there is time given in which to prepare for this event of events. A little in the future it will be said by those who seek a hiding-place from the presence of the Coming One, The great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? Wisdom dictates that we make the inquiry now while there is a little space left in which to prepare.

The events of the day of the Lord are no common events; and it will need a special preparation of heart and life to meet them. The people that pass through the time of trouble, and are translated into the kingdom of God, changed to immortality without tasting of death, will be no ordinary people. They will be a peculiar people, zealous of good works. They will be a people that rise above the prevailing wickedness of the times, when iniquity abounds and the love of many has grown cold. As the tares of the field are ripened in wickedness, a wickedness that exceeds that of all time since the flood; so the people that enjoy the light to prepare them for translation, must excel in holiness, having all the light of the past and present to aid them in becoming ripe for the heavenly granary.

Are we making advancement in the life which is by faith in the Son of God? Are we striving to let our light shine, that we may save our fellow men? Are we recommending the truth to them by word and deed? Oh, let us be stirred to zealous action in the cause of God. Let us gird ourselves anew for the closing conflict with the powers of darkness, putting on all the armor of light. And let us feel the spirit of labor to save souls, realizing our responsibility as the light of the world. In due season we shall reap if we faint not. Let us then be always abounding in the work of the Lord, since we know that our labor will not be in vain in the Lord. There is but little time to labor. Shall it not be all diligently improved? May we realize these things as we ought, and so take heed to ourselves as to be finally prepared to hear our Master say, Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord.

My dear brethren, I am fully persuaded that the faithful will soon be saved with an everlasting salvation. I want to be one among the number. I want to meet you in glory. Pray for me that I may be faithful, and finally be found an overcomer. My heart's desire and prayer to God for you is that you may be saved. Let us be faithful. Eternal life is worth all it costs. It has cost the life's blood of the Son of God; and it will cost us something. If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. It will be cheap enough to us—the free gift of God. Christ will see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. The saints will be satisfied too, when they awake with his likeness. Brother, sister, will you make the sacrifice? I will try.

R. F. COTTRELL.