Untitled article by Calvin Green

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · September 17, 1867

From Bro. Green.

By Calvin Green

BRO. SMITH: As I have not yet acknowledged, through the Review, the goodness and mercy of God in restoring me to the faith I once lost, I would now seek to discharge that duty in humility. It may encourage some poor wanderer to return. Long and fearful has been my struggle; a word often would sink me into discouragement, and again another would renew my courage and cause me to begin the battle again. How often have the prayers of those whom I often call to mind with the fondest feelings of love, ascended to God in my behalf. My heart is now melted, in remembrance of their kind acts and words to me. May God in his infinite love keep them, is my prayer. The Lord has been good to me. He has heard my cry to save me from falling in the way I once walked. He has brought me here to share the burdens of his dear people—the place my heart was drawn out toward, while yet in a great measure under the power of darkness. How good he is! I often say, and yet I mourn to see how poorly I requite him for what he has done for me. And to those who are struggling alone, deprived of the society of those of like precious faith, You are remembered. The faithful of the church remember you; others in a like situation remember you; and, above all, a kind and compassionate Saviour remembers you. Heed his admonition to “watch and pray,” and all will be well. What if dark clouds envelop you? They also do others. What if your hearts at times seem turned to stone? God’s grace is sufficient for you. What if your prayers seem to ascend no higher than your heads? Oh! when all this comes upon us, how much more need we have to gird the armor closer and watch. Now is my time to watch, I often say when trials thicken, and pray when prayer seems of no avail. Jesus has said, “Men ought always to pray and not to faint.” The last word implies that we may come to almost a fainting condition, and yet the admonition, if heeded, assures that we shall be heard.

To those wandering ones who still desire to return to a kind Father’s home, I would say, Come back. Oh! how he yearns to fall upon your neck and kiss you; to put a gold ring upon your finger, and call you his own once more. Are you afraid? Our sins are what make us afraid. We may well tremble to retain them; but he says, “he that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy.” Take the Lord at his word, and taste that he is good. You will have to struggle, but that need not discourage you. He has promised in every time of need to help us. Read of the glories of eternity. Con over in your mind his precious promises, lay hold of them as your own, get a principle in your heart to obey him henceforth, let come what will come. And to add still more for your encouragement, read the last two chapters in Revelation; and when you come to the 17th verse of chap. xxii, stop and inquire, Are all these promises for me? and if the desire to drink of the waters of life is in your hearts, God has put it there, and invites you to come; and after you have tasted, prove faithful, and “thou shalt see the King in his beauty.”

CALVIN GREEN.

Battle Creek, Mich.