An Appeal by Angelia J. Edmunds

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 22, 1870

An Appeal.

By Angelia J. Edmunds

How many are backsliding! How many are losing their first love! True advent faith is leaking out, little by little, so gradual that they scarcely realize it. Many, very many, are resting on their oars, and the turbulent current is swiftly floating them down stream. Some are slumbering, some are fainting. What can be said or done to arouse them? They are so cold, it is almost as impossible to make them realize their true condition, as it would be to awaken a frozen man.

Perhaps they can be aroused for a few moments, only to sink back into a more hopeless sleep; and must we leave them to sleep on? Will they persistently go down to destruction? Will they not heed the admonitions already given? Is their destruction sure? Yes, if they do not rally all their forces, and with a determination and will set about the work of resisting the lethargy Satan is casting over them; if they do not by much prayer secure the aid and strength of Jesus, they are lost, forever lost! Oh! my heart is sad when I see so many dear ones so heedless. Will you not arise and come with us? There is a prize at the end of the race. Eternal life, a robe, a crown, and a harp, for those who run well, and overcome every obstacle in the way, with Christian fortitude. Do not procrastinate. Come now, and we may enjoy the reward together there.

Dear friends, how can I leave you? But if you will not go with me, I must hasten; for holy angels beckon me onward. My brethren and sisters, if they will not awaken and go with us, shall we stop by the way, and fall asleep too? No; there is the greater need of our taking steps in advance; for if we rest content where they left off, we, too, may in a few weeks be as soundly asleep in regard to our true condition, as they now seem to be. One great help in the Christian course is the prayer and social meeting. We must not forget the assembling of ourselves together, “as the manner of some is,” but exhort one another; and so much the more as we see the day approaching. What day? “The day of the Lord.” “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Heb. 10: 37.

There are many lonely ones. Their hearts would be joyful if they could meet with those of like precious faith. God will be with them and strengthen them according to their need; but if we, who have this great privilege, neglect it we shall be accountable.

Our Heavenly Father knew that if we neglected the assembling of ourselves together, “as the manner of some is,” (Heb. 10: 25,) we should surely sleep the sleep of spiritual death. In these last days we must heed this injunction. If this is not necessary, why were those sacred words written?

If our numbers are few, we can meet together in the fear of God, and claim the blessing; “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18: 20. Will not that be a heavenly sitting together? We shall be loth to leave the place. We shall not be discouraged and lonely because we are few. No; the house will be to us filled with the presence of God, and we shall be ready to offer a prayer, sing a hymn, read a revelation, give an exhortation, or speak to the edifying of each other, as the Spirit of God shall give us utterance. “For ye may all prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.” 1 Cor. 14: 31.

How can we discern between the righteous and the wicked? “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels [or special treasure], and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.” Mal. 3: 16-18. We are to overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Rev. 12: 11. “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you; for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night,” upon all who shall cry peace and safety. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” Therefore, let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober. “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” 1 Thess. 5: 1-11.

To you who have traced the lines of prophecy, and know that prophetic time terminated in 1844; you who believe that the signs of Christ’s second coming are in the past, and that the next event will be the shaking of the powers of heaven, when all the tribes of the earth shall mourn; you that expect soon to see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, while the last trump shall sound, and he shall gather his elect from the four quarters of the earth; to you whom Satan is fast lulling asleep, I would say in the words of one that long since saw your drowsy condition, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Rom. 13: 11, 12.

ANGELIA J. EDMUNDS.

Johnstown, Mich.