Untitled article by Vesta N. Cudworth

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 12, 1867

GOD’S PROMISES ALL TO THE POOR.

By Vesta N. Cudworth

“For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.” Ps. xii, 12.

Though sung to the harp of a monarch, their divine melody is still as grateful to the humblest Christian thousands of years later, as they take up the soul-inspiring strain, and sing it over and over again in the house of their pilgrimage.

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again,” are some of the goodly words spoken by one that chose neither riches, nor long life, but wisdom; and poor pilgrims down here in the nineteenth century still repeat them deliberately, as though the living waters were too rich to be hastily drank, and would long be tasting their sweetness.

The dark wing of sorrow may have long brooded o’er the path of the despised followers of the lowly Nazarene, but, thank God, the star of hope, which no temporal darkness can dim, gilds the loneliest night of the poor. When their fingers are worn and wearied in the cause of God, when an unselfish charity nerves them day by day, could the veil be lifted, we might hear it said as to the prodigal, “put a ring on their finger.” And oh, how resplendent does that jewel shine in the sight of angels.

Yes, hands sanctified to God as well as lips, are beautiful in the sight of One who has chosen the poor to be rich in faith, and their fruit is precious to the Husbandman. It is to them that his promises flash out, like living pearls, strung purposely for them. And while earth’s unsatisfied children are tossing on their beds of down, God’s little ones are slumbering on his faithful bosom, rocked to sleep by sympathizing angels, instructed by dreams and visions of the night, forgetting their toil and scenes of glory, and beauty, awaking only to drink more deeply of the sacred stream.

Yes, there is one that knows all the dwellings of poverty, and children of want. That being that cares for the sparrow and clothes the spotless lily cares for the weary feet of the pilgrim strangers here, giving them, with their poverty and desertion, a peace, so calm, so deep, that all the storms of earth cannot disturb. They may be amid the fearful waves, but they are familiar with the voice of Him that walks upon the waters and whispers, Peace, be still. They know that voice. It is like the breaking in of light to the blind; or like the morning, when God rolls back the dark cloud.

The rich are not God’s people; no bountiful promise drops like dew in their forsaken path; but if they remember aught of the word of God, it is, “Woe to them that are full now,” &c.; “How hardly can a rich man,” &c.; “Go to, now, ye rich,” &c. But there are degrees of poverty. Some are made stewards, and if they will be almoners of God’s bounty, if, instead of laying up their treasures on earth they give to the poor, become Dorcases, and make garments for the needy, God will reward them at the resurrection of the just, and they will find there is a profit in goodness, even here, and this promise, like some silvery song, will twine around their trusting hearts: “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow with it,” implying that the riches of earth were closely connected with sorrow.

In imagination I seem to see Jesus, as he stood with his face lighted up with a glorious smile of tenderness, and with those sinless lips spake to the two wondering disciples, and said, “Go and show John, . . . the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up,” and then added (as though the last clause was as remarkable and convincing of the truth of his Messiahship as the previous things which he had spoken), “The poor have the gospel preached to them.” Undoubtedly John received their testimony with gladness, for he remembers that Isaiah had said, “And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness; the meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

It is hard without faith to be poor, but when we understand that he has “chosen the poor,” we are content. But who has chosen the poor? Not an earthly monarch, or a man that can die, but the great and mighty God, that taketh up the isles as a very little thing, and holds the waters in his hand; that builds up nations, and pulls down empires; that calls the stars by name, and spreads out his beautiful bow on the dark cloud, and sends the lightnings where he willeth. But for what has he chosen them? For kings and priests, and they are heirs to an inheritance that is incorruptible; that is under the whole heavens. Heirs to what it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive; more costly and beautiful than here can be imagined; to a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; to golden harps and starry crowns; to an eternal and uninterrupted communion with our Father, Jesus, the angels, and all the pure and good

of earth; to immortality and eternal life. Oh! who would not be “the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom.

VESTA N. CUDWORTH.