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FEAR NOT

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 25, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 10.

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FEAR NOT.

By Mrs. R. M. Philo

“Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
How often when trials arise in various ways, my heart is cheered with this text. Our Saviour saw when he gave us this admonition to “fear not,” that many things would arise, which would have a tendency to make us fearful; therefore he adds the precious promise, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
The masses are in the broad road that leads to destruction, and but few in the narrow path that leads to life, and it is the little flock that is to inherit the kingdom.
During a protracted effort in this place, the inducements which the minister said he should hold out, to call people over on the Lord’s side were these: It was the side on which the majority was found. One expression was, that the wicked, compared with the righteous, were but as a drop to the bucketful. And again he said that it was on the side of popularity, honor, and riches. I have wondered whether the few converts he gained, were converted to God, or to the idea of majority, popularity, and honor.
How different these teachings from our Saviour’s! He says many are called, but few are chosen; many follow the road to destruction, and few the narrow path of life; and to the little flock are his promises. And as regards popularity, he has said, Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. And the world will love his own; but because ye are not of the world, it hateth you.
The promises made to the little flock are precious to us here because we are but a very small company. But we want to do our duty, and live so as not to bring a reproach on the cause.
A friend one day in speaking in favor of our views to a minister in this place, was answered in a tone of derision, “Oh! let them go on, and perhaps they will convert Stanton.” This we do not expect; for we feel as nothing when we remember that Noah preached one hundred and twenty years, and only eight souls were saved; and with Abraham pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah, not five just persons could be found; and sudden destruction came. Yet our prayer is that the Lord will send laborers here, that a few from this place, who are honest in heart, may be added to that little flock which shall inherit the kingdom.
Often as we come together in our little prayer meetings (although our numbers are double what they were) we feel sad that so few are willing to bear the cross. Yet we find the promise verified, Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst; and what more can we ask than to have our Saviour meet with us by the outpourings of his Spirit?
MRS. R. M. PHILO.