Untitled article by R. O. SAUNDERS

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · September 3, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 12

Conference Department.

By R. O. SAUNDERS

Exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. Heb. x, 25.

This Department is designed to fill the same place in the paper that the Conference or Social Meeting does in the worship of God. Speak often one to another to comfort, edify and aid each other in the way of holiness and true Christian experience.

From Sister Saunders.

In order to bear fruit to the glory of God we must advance in the work to which we have set our hands. No man putting his hand to the plough (or work) and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. We can not stand still nor be idlers in the vineyard of the Lord. We are exhorted by the apostle Paul to leave the first principles of the doctrine of Christ (that is the first rudiments of religion), and go on to perfection. As we know that without holiness no man can see the Lord, we are to seek for and obtain it by a well-ordered life and a godly conversation. How many are like the barren fig-tree, with nothing but leaves, and as the poet says, The Spirit grieves to see us so; the question arises, Shall we meet the Master thus, with our withered leaves? He looks for perfect fruit, and shall we not see to it that we are bearing the fruits of the Spirit, which are “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” that we may become perfect men and women in Christ Jesus? In due time we shall surely reap the rich reward of eternal life. Though we are called to lead a self-denying life, are we not willing to do so, seeing it is for our good? In the reforms to which we as a people are called, we are required only to give up those things that tend to our injury. Should we then be vacillating? We answer, No. If it is right for us only to eat two meals a day, let us adhere to that rule of action, and so also in regard to all branches of the great work of reform. Do we not linger around the shore too much, afraid to venture out into the deep water, not trusting in that mighty arm that is ready to help in every time of need? Let us not be faithless, but believing. The Lord has not called us to a work that he will not give us ability to perform. May we walk in the light and see the importance of living out the truth as fast as it is made known to us, lest in neglecting to do so, our light become darkness. Should we not hail with joy every advance step which the Lord calls his people to take, to prepare them for the coming kingdom? Then let our motto ever be, Upward and onward; up from these low grounds of lukewarmness and onward to certain victory. We have a captain who never lost a battle, and as long as we abide in him and his words abide in us, we may have no doubts of gaining victory. As we see sin and every species of crime increasing in the land, should we not labor more faithfully that the knowledge of the glorious truths of the third angel's message be disseminated among the people, that all who will may have the words of life and be persuaded to keep the commandments of God? The further we progress in the divine life, the narrower is the path. We find that our pride, selfishness, and love of the world, has all to be given up; for we are seeking a city wherein dwelleth righteousness, and all who enter there must be wholly sanctified through obeying the truth. Christ is purifying unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. When he comes again, he is to present to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Hence those that have entered upon the good work must progress in order to be saved; for the promise is only to the finally faithful. It will not do to stumble at this or that, nor halt in the preparation work, lest we linger too long and the day of mercy close, and we are not saved.

Our only safety is in going forward with our eye fixed on the prize. We are to be ready, waiting, and watching for the return of our Lord. The humble child of God says, Let trials and persecutions come, only let me know I am in the way of duty. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

R. O. SAUNDERS.

Jeff. Co., N. Y.