Untitled article by M. G. KELLOGG.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, January 14, 1868

TOO BUSY TO FREEZE.

By M. G. KELLOGG.

SEATED in my study I can look out upon the Delaware as it rolls on silently a hundred feet below. Slowly and gently, yet majestically, its waters move along, and many are the times that I have gazed upon the steamers passing up and down upon its bosom; and often, as I have witnessed a small steam tug, towing its twenty to twenty-four canal boats, each of which was larger than itself, and all against the stream, have I thought, How fortunate for man is it that these waters move slowly; it enables him to use them to better advantage than he otherwise could.

But time flies, and winter comes, and, with a cold hand, seizes this mighty stream and binds it fast in fetters of ice. Where now is its usefulness? No more plying of oars is heard, nor puffing of steam. All is hushed, bound by the icy hand of winter.

Walking along the banks of the river, I gaze upon its ice-bound surface, meditating on the great change that I have witnessed. My ears are greeted with a low, murmuring sound, and seeking its cause I find myself at the bottom of a ravine, with a rippling brook at my feet; but no ice here. Why is this? How, thought I, could winter bind the mighty river fast, and yet not be able to hold this insignificant streamlet in his icy grasp? Why is it, mighty waters? But I hear no answer. I asked the rippling brook, why? and I seem to hear its mellow voice in notes of sweetest music as it sings, Too busy to freeze! Too busy to freeze!

Retracing my steps, I lift my heart to God in prayer: May I too be too busy to freeze. May my Christian life not be like the river so slow that it should freeze up, and I cease to be useful. Oh! no, Let me be like this busy brook, ever moving on, and on, in usefulness, and holiness, ever seeking after entire consecration, ever too busy to freeze, until my life is made perfect in Christ, and till He, who is my life shall appear, to give unto me that better life, that life that knows no ending, the life that I shall live beneath the shade of life's fair tree, the life when I shall drink of life's fair stream, and ever praise the name of Him, who freely shed his life for me.

Reader, how is it with you? Are you like the little brook, Too busy to freeze, ever doing your work, no matter how humble it be, in such a manner that you do not freeze? Perhaps so. But are you so busy that you do not get lukewarm. Look out! This is the first step toward freezing up. The Devil is ever ready, with lumps of ice in the form of unbelief, and unfaithfulness in duty; to temper you down, first to a lukewarm state, and next to freezing point. Thus he will destroy vital piety out of your souls. Oh! beware of his devices. Cling close to the bleeding side of Christ, and ever be too busy to freeze.

M. G. KELLOGG.

Florence, N. J.