p. 226 | PERILOUS TIMES by M. C. Cyphers

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 3, 1868

PERILOUS TIMES.

By M. C. Cyphers

NEVER was there a time when the human heart was so fully given to selfish interests as at the present. Go where you may, in whatever society you mingle, a day's sojourn will convince you that men everywhere are seeking their own pleasure and profit. These are, indeed, sad times. The Spirit of God has about ended its important work with the children of men. Many have resisted the admonitions for the last time. It has withdrawn itself from them forever.

The testimonies that God has been pleased to give his people have revealed the sad fact, that we, as a body, do not possess that self-sacrificing spirit that characterised the believers in the first message. Do we believe that these messages are from Heaven? Is it a reality to us that Jesus is about to shut the door? Then there will be no more mercy for us. The last opportunity to do good will be past. We can no more relieve the fatherless, nor make glad the widow's heart. Then it will be known who are truly the Lord's. He will keep his people. But we have not reached that time. Thank God, probation lingers. Mercy still whispers, Pardon, to the repentant heart.

A few will overcome; they will possess the character of Christ, without fault, and blameless, in wide contradistinction to that large company that will fall a prey to the seven last plagues.

M. C. CYPHERS.

Greenville, Mich.