TO THE YOUNG by Maggie Newman

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 16, 1867

TO THE YOUNG.

By Maggie Newman

DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: The time has come, when if we have not already gained a living experience in the things of God we must do so now; and we have but a short time to do it in. The Lord has in mercy called after us many times. He has patiently waited for us; but do we realize that the time is drawing near when if we have not heartily repented of all our sins, we shall find no place of repentance! We may then weep in vain. Time is swiftly passing away; and are we improving the time, and preparing for the day of the Lord as we should? Precious opportunities and privileges have been slighted by us. We have not done our duty. Our influence has not always been on the side of truth. We have been too much like the world. Ah! some of us I fear have been of the world. We have professed to be keeping the commandments of God, and have been united with his remnant people; but have we lived according to our profession? Have we been separate from the world? and have we been living out the sacred truths of the third angel’s message, thus showing to all with whom we associate, and especially to members of our own family, that we are not of this world, but that we are the Lord’s? If we are his, then we are not of this world, even as Christ was not of this world, and we are not to expect the friendship of the world. Christ said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” And if we will be a friend of the world, we shall be the enemy of God, James iv, 4, and we know that when Christ comes, he is not coming to save his enemies, but the obedient, patient, waiting ones; those who have denied themselves and have suffered for the truth’s sake.

Dear friends, let us count the cost, then turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, confessing and forsaking our sins, and yielding ourselves wholly to the Lord, that we may be purified by obeying his truth, and be prepared to stand when the Judge of all the earth shall appear. Do we ask if we must give up our associates who are of the world? Certainly, we must! We should treat them kindly, and do all we can to win them to the truth, but still, be separate from them, and not partakers of their sins. Do we not desire to see them converted to the truth? Most assuredly we do. Then let us take that course, and the only course that can be, or may be, the means of their receiving the truth. Let us seek the company of those who truly are lovers of the Saviour, and who are living out the truths they profess. If the world ridicule us for thus doing, and cast out our names as evil, let us be careful to give them no reason for so doing. May we abstain from the very appearance of evil; then the blessing of the Saviour will rest on us; for he said, “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in Heaven.”

Shall we not arise, dear friends? Oh! let us try to heed the counsel of the True Witness. The Lord requires the whole heart. He does not ask too much. He yielded his own precious life for us; and now he requires no more of us than we can and should bestow; and shall we not do it? Shall not the young arise and do what the Lord requires of them, that we may not stand in the way of sinners, and that our garments may be spotless at the last day? May the Lord help us; and may the prayers of God’s people everywhere ascend to Heaven for the young. May the work of the Lord move forward, and when Jesus comes may we be ready to meet him. A rich reward awaits God’s people. We are to humble ourselves before him now, learn to be submissive, and obedient; but by and by, if we prove faithful, we are to be exalted. We are to dwell with holy angels, and, best of all, with the lovely Jesus. Then we shall be fully repaid for all the suffering we shall have endured here.

We need not fear that we shall not be able to endure the trials we may be called to pass through here, if we only walk in the path of duty, and seek the Lord as we should for strength. May faith, patience, and love be given us as we need. And when tried, even though it be as gold is tried in the fire, may we patiently endure the trial.

MAGGIE NEWMAN.

Victor N. Y.