Praying for Faithful Messengers
By L. C. Hutchins
BRO. SMITH: I desire once more to express my interest in the momentous truths advocated by the Review, with my own hopes and desires in relation thereto. I have been pained by the affliction of the messengers; especially so when reflecting upon the fields whitening for the harvest. I have prayed the Lord to send forth more laborers, but fear my feeble aspirations have partaken far too much of the spirit of the poet, when he said, “Come let us pray that come it may, as come it will, for all that.” Bro. Waggoner’s letter is timely. I feel stimulated to entreat the Lord, by earnest prayer, that God would fit and send forth suitable messengers, to proclaim the last, loving message of warning and mercy to a sinful world, which I sincerely believe is now going forth. But such must first be baptized in the bitter waters of affliction, to prepare them for the solemn, self-denying work. So, indeed, must all God’s chosen ones. I believe the time is not far distant when severe trials and persecutions shall shake out the world-loving, the joking, the trifling, time-serving, and lukewarm among the people of God, and leave the solemn and warm-hearted alone to battle for God and his truth. Who shall be able to stand? Like those of old I feel to inquire, Lord, is it I? “Shall such a worthless worm as I,
Who sometimes am afraid to die,
Be found at thy right hand?” It is truly lamentable that by mistakes, misapprehensions, and haste in words and actions, we so often bring afflictions upon ourselves and others. I am truly sorry for my own shortcomings, and desire to exercise toward others the same charity and forbearance which I now humbly ask at their hands. My mind has been solemnly affected while reflecting upon the injunctions of Scripture to reprove, rebuke with all long-suffering and doctrine. “Thou shalt not suffer sin upon thy brother, but shalt in anywise reprove thy brother.” While, no doubt, the duty to reprove sin rests with greatest weight upon the leaders of God’s people, who of us can complacently fold our hands, inquiring, Am I my brother’s keeper? beholding, and fellowshipping the wrong-doer, while the world mock on, and sinners are hardened. Would it not be well while prayerfully endeavoring to arouse from lukewarmness and put away our sins, to humbly, kindly, honestly, and faithfully reprove the sinner, remembering the time is at hand when “fearfulness shall surprise the hypocrites, and sinners in Zion shall tremble,” lest haply at the last day the blood of souls be found upon us? And would not such a course have a tendency to stop that undercurrent of gossip which flows from lip to lip, poisoning the stream of friendship, drying up the fountains of brotherly love, and distracting the church and the world, and which is the reverse of that charity which thinketh no evil? My heart is saddened with such things. God loves the sinner while he loathes the sin. Can his children do less? For my own part I see in such a course nothing contradictory or unforgiving, but the strictest consistency with true charity and holy living. Far be it from me to cast upon the church, or the ministry, or any one, any burden which should lie upon my own shoulders. We live in a peculiarly solemn time. Oh! to be prepared for coming judgment! This is, of all things, most important. For this I am willing to make all lawful concession to all—and, if need be, to have cast upon me undeserved obloquy. The Judge standeth at the door. To him I have committed all. So long as I am faithful I have no fears for my reputation, dear though it be. Having committed to Him all, He will not permit more than I can bear, since mine is his. Only be faithful! Poor, weak self! When shall I overcome? Thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, a way is open. Ten years’ experience has deepened the impression that it is far better to live out the truth than to contend about it, and such shall be my endeavors. I am thankful for the light upon health reform, and am striving to conform in habit to the laws of my being. I have never had the severe cross in this which has weighed upon most. Having been somewhat familiar with most of the principles of the reform from childhood, and practiced them in a measure, I have not been called at this time to omit, with but a very slight exception, stimulants or condiments for myself or family. I have eaten no pork for about three years, and find mind clear, and health good upon vegetable diet. Perhaps it is due the cause to say that, although skeptical in the beginning, I am convinced, upon trial, that two meals of graham are as satisfying to nature, as three of the fine flour with flesh diet. I will only add that I am thankful for open vision. I have for some years listened with candor to friends and foes with the book of God in my hand as the criterion by which to judge, and am compelled to say the work is God’s. But when I read humble confessions from those in high stations, I feel humble in view of my own shortcomings and theirs, and can only exclaim, Truly, “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” It is not my forte to follow the leaders blindly, like sheep passing a gap in a fence. But upon patient, faithful investigation I hope to ever follow in the light of Bible truth. The world looks like a dark forest through which I am traveling. While scriptural present truth, as a lamp, just shows me where to place my feet in the narrow way. I see the light of eternity beyond, and dare not listen to the myriad syren voices calling to me from the tangled copse, lest for a moment I suffer my eyes to turn from looking straight before me, my attention to be diverted, and I forever lose sight of the pole star of my hope, and am lost.