V. N. CUDWORTH by V. N. Cudworth

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

V. N. CUDWORTH

By V. N. Cudworth

From Sister Cudworth.

DEAR BRN. AND SISTERS: Let us exhort one another more as we see the day approaching, than we have in the past, nor think it strange concerning the fiery trial. 1 Pet. iv, 12. All trials are not the one here designated the fiery trial. We should not think strange of a common trial; but this will be so unnatural, protracted, and fiery, or a succession of new ones some way so unlooked for, so peculiar, that we shall think it strange and be led to despond, unless we are fortified, armed, and equipped, which means a great deal. Being baptized, speaking and praying in meeting, writing for a paper, paying our systematic benevolence money, is not half of it. The pruning knife is already among our thick boughs; and as one fair branch after another falls, and the beautiful leaves are borne away on the ruthless blast, we sometimes shrink from the process; but we learn where our treasures, yea idols, are enshrined. “As many as I love I rebuke and chasten.” Rev. iii, 19. This then is the “love token;” and as Jesus is doing his last work of mercy in the heavenly sanctuary, I truly desire to be remembered, if it be by rebuke and chastening. We are in the Laodicean state, and not only the gold, but the white robe and eyesalve, are bought by the same fiery process. The fiery trial that we are exhorted not to think strange of, is to bring out the beautiful graces, and fit us for an intimate communion with Jesus, where he is represented as coming into our poor hearts, and supping with us and we with him.

We are exhorted to “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Oh! yes, many will exclaim, we’ll do that. But when God uses a figure, he means all that the figure represents. Now if we should ask a soldier, that had been sick and had camped out on the cold ground, been starved awhile in the Georgia prisons, lost a limb or two, or an eye, &c., if it was a hard campaign, what would he say? I think we shall all know the meaning of “endure,” before we are pronounced overcomers.

In Malachi iii, 16, we read, “Yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” Will this try God’s children? yes! and bring out true faith. The tide will be set against them, the wind drive them upon the rocks, and in the anguish of their souls they will cry mightily for help; but will God let the oppressor prosper? He will. So I returned and considered all the oppressions done under the sun, (mark!) and on the side of the oppressor there was power, but on the side of the weak there was no comforter. See Eccl. iv, 1. And will it try God’s elect that cry unto him day and night, when, “blameless and harmless, without rebuke,” they are found in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation? but crushed in the midst of false brethren? But will God suffer it? He will. And will foes rise up in the household and condemn the innocent, and will God let them prosper? He will; for thus saith the Lord, “A man’s foes shall be those of his own household;” and the prophet tells us that there will be conspiracies, and they will prosper for a while. Will it try a man’s faith? It will, if he has got any; if not, he will not stand it a moment. And they will call the proud happy, or blessed. In short, the evil servant will smite not the world, but his fellow servant. But while he smites, the Master comes. Amen.

Thus, our voyage as we near shore must be a stormy one, and short too; and God will never leave us nor forsake us. We need not be troubled about these things being against us, they are all for us. Let us remember Job, and all that have suffered in the past. But we must “be zealous and reform.” We must “seek peace and pursue it.” In short, we must suffer as Christians. Sometimes my heart faints; but I keep on pursuing. Glory is worth many struggles, yea, life itself. God help us to leave all our baggage and go, and gain all to the truth we can. If they are saved, Jesus will know where to put the stars, if not, where the cause is.

V. N. CUDWORTH

Springfield, Mass.