QUARTERLY MEETING AT PINE ISLAND.
By H. F. Phelps
This meeting was held according to appointment in REVIEW. Bro. Pierce was present, and truly ministered in word and doctrine, to the benefit of all. Bro. P. seemed to be fired with new and heavenly zeal, and his love and earnestness for God’s eternal truth seems to be much on the increase. To God be all the praise. He spoke to us twice on the Sabbath, and once on first-day, and attended the ordinances of the Lord’s house evening after the Sabbath. Many points of interest were brought out in these sermons of which I can only briefly speak. Sabbath, P. M.; Luke xiii, 24, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” There is no word in the English language that expresses in its fullest sense the original of the word “strive.” By this word we are urged to the greatest exertion possible. We should make every effort, throw our whole body and spirit into the work. We should struggle, agonize, to enter into the strait gate; for many shall seek, and shall not be able, because they will not make an effort in any way commensurate with the necessities of the case. But we cannot dwell upon this. First-day, A. M., we had a business meeting appointed, but there were not enough present to attend to any business; one to his farm, another to his merchandise. One thought, well I have nothing to do at a business meeting, and so another thought, and another, and so nearly all thought, and so stayed away. These things ought not to be so. There may be excuses; but we do not see what they can be. But this does not apply alone to the business part of a meeting. Some are very negligent of eternal things, so drunken with the cares of this world that but very few come to remain through the meetings, and even those who might go and come fail to return to the meetings on first-day. By this course you often lose much good, as upon this occasion you lost a most soul-stirring discourse. The text chosen was Zeph. ii, 1–3, “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” God’s people are often designated as a nation and by tribes, and it can be clearly shown that God’s Israel (meaning a prevailer with God in prayer,) will be so designated to the end of time. “Gather together.” Come into the unity of the faith “before the decree” that ye shall be killed, “bring forth.” Before the day pass as the chaff. The day of mercy will soon pass, even as chaff before the wind. “The day of the fierce anger of the Lord!” Oh! what a day! Who can stand? Who shall be able to stand “when he riseth to shake terribly the earth?” “Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth, it may be ye shall be hid.” It may be, implying a liability of their not being saved, because they do not seek aright. “It may be” it makes the soul tremble. A parallel text is found in Amos v, 15, “Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate, it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.” The remnant, the last end of his church. It may be he will be gracious unto them. But why these expressions? Does not Jesus say that they that seek shall find? and does not Peter say that an entrance shall be ministered abundantly? Yes. But Jesus also says, Luke xiii, 24, “For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” And Peter also says, “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” But why this difference of expression? Does the Bible contradict itself? No; it is perfectly harmonious. The fact is, Jesus and Peter are both speaking to two different classes of persons. Matt. vii, 7, Jesus is talking to those in his presence, and perhaps some following generations. But in Luke he is talking to the last generation, which is proved by reading the 25th verse. And Peter also, when he says, “For so an entrance shall be ministered abundantly,” 2 Pet. i, 11, is speaking to his brethren then living, as can be easily seen by reading the entire book. He commenced the epistle to them who have obtained, &c., and goes on down through to the new-earth state. Although it may be applicable to all Christians, yet it is more especially applicable to all but the remnant of Joseph. But, 1 Pet. iv, 17, 18, “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” is speaking to the last end of the church; for in verse 7, he says, “But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer.” And verse 17 reads, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” “And if the righteous scarcely be saved,” showing that they would barely pass the test; for “many shall seek and shall not be able.” “It may be ye shall be hid.” “It may be the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” But why this difference? The fact is, those who have lived in past ages, and have come down to the grave, all covered with sins of ignorance, have had a mediator. The ministration has been great, consequently an entrance could be ministered to them abundantly. But the last generation of the saved have to come up and stand without an intercessor, without a spot or wrinkle, consequently they will scarcely be saved. To use a similitude, as if a man were pursued by a ravenous beast, reached the door, passed into the house, closed the door, just as the beast sprang against the door. He was scarcely saved; but his salvation was none the less sure than if it had been abundantly administered. But is God partial? No; the remnant have such a flood of light and truth as no generation have ever been permitted to enjoy. The light, the truth, the help, that is given them is in proportion to the perils of the times. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God.” But whose case will come first? It may be that those who have been longest in the truth will come first. Oh! that we may be prepared. Oh! that we may become obedient, sanctified, and elevated by the truths of God’s word. These are some of the thoughts presented in his discourse. May God help us to obey and live.