D. T. SHIREMAN by D. T. Shireman

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 8, 1868

D. T. SHIREMAN

By D. T. Shireman

From Bro. Shireman.

BRO. SMITH: With a deep feeling of my unworthiness, I take my pen to say a few words through the REVIEW. I feel thankful that Jesus is yet pleading in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. I feel solemn in view of the great work there is for me to do in order to be ready to meet Christ when he comes.

I truly feel thankful that I had the privilege of attending the camp-meeting at Pilot Grove. It was a very solemn time. The servants of the Lord had a message for his people; and oh! how many vows were made upon that sacred spot as the truth was spoken. And now, dear brethren and sisters, we have had time given us to perform our solemn promises. How have we done? Have we tried to arouse in this great work, or have we fallen asleep again? Let the words we heard from Bro. White ring in our ears, “It is court week.” Yes, it is court week; and we have a case pending, and must be up and doing if we want our cases to come out clear. We must be getting the witnesses now. Soon it will be too late. It will take all; and when we have done all that we can do, we have the promise of help. I am well satisfied that we must adopt a system, and then strive to live up to it from day to day if we would make advancement in this work. If we take hold of this work with the same zeal that we do our daily labor, it seems to me that we shall be more spiritually minded than we are, and less than this is certainly not expected of us.

We are on the battle field. We must keep on the whole armor. There is no time for us to lay it off. The enemy is on the alert. We can look back and see where he has slain or taken captive some of our fellow soldiers; and the battle is still coming closer; but our warfare is not with carnal weapons, but with spiritual; and if we prove loyal to our Captain, we shall be sure to gain the victory, and when this war is over, he will give us a homestead in the new earth. What a happy prospect is before the soldiers of Christ! Let us hold on, fight on. I feel encouraged while writing. The Lord is good. I want to strip myself of every weight that hinders me in this work. The way is very narrow. We cannot take this world with us. Is our daily life witnessing that we are living for Jesus? Or is our example of such a nature that our hearts condemn us? Let us remember that God is greater. He knows the thoughts and the intents of the hearts, as well as our actions. Let us try to obey the truth from the heart, and hold it in the love of it.

I believe that it is our privilege to enjoy more of the Spirit of the Lord, to feel his presence more. Let us choose the fast of Isa. lviii. “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.” May the Lord help us to live the truth, seek his favor, cut loose from the world, and at last have a home in the earth made new, is my prayer.

D. T. SHIREMAN

Marion, Iowa.