Untitled article by H. F. Phelps

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, December 31, 1867

NOTHING TO WRITE ABOUT.

By H. F. Phelps

As I sat by the fire one evening musing, feeling little disposition to read, and considering what to do to call my mind from the busy things of the world, the question proposed itself, Why don't you write for the Review, and the answer immediately came, I have nothing to write about. But why, continued I, have nothing to write about? God's mercies are abundant; his blessings innumerable; my daily wants are supplied. Truly I have enough to write about. But feeling an indisposition about the matter, I desired to know the reason. It is simply this: Being for sometime impressed

with labors pertaining to things of this world, and allowing myself to be wholly occupied therewith, I had almost forgotten the injunction of the apostle, to “be temperate in all things.” I had been intemperate in work, but very intemperate, to my own loss, I find, in those things which pertain to my spiritual advancement. Temperate as to time for meditation and prayer, the reading of the word of God, searching my own heart, trying my own motives, and judging of myself by the light of God's word, till I find myself so very far behind what I might be, and, not to boast of my own attainments, somewhat behind what I have been, that I am ready to exclaim, “Oh! my leanness, my leanness!” and I see the necessity of making due diligence to retrace my steps, making haste to overtake those who are far in advance in the Christian race, and not to be satisfied with this even, but, pressing on, try to attain unto all that is in store for those who follow on to know the Lord.

And thus I muse. And as I write, I begin to feel again the warmings of the Spirit of God on my heart, and again I feel those unutterable longings for holiness of heart, for purity of purpose, of desires, of motives, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, which must be the earnest desire of every heart, if they would share in the refreshing which is just before us. And this desire must be followed by an individual effort. And I pray that in me, and all my brethren and sisters, this desire may be strengthened and an effort put forth that shall correspond with the solemnity of the times, and the end to be obtained, “Nearer, my God, to thee.”

H. F. PHELPS.

Pine Island, Minn.