THE LONGSUFFERING OF GOD.
By John Byington
In reading my Bible of late my mind has been deeply impressed with this subject. The apostle Peter says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Pet. iii, 9. And has he been sparing the nations of the earth nearly six thousand years that they might repent? And yet in any one age or nation how few have truly repented. Out of the nations he chose one for himself, and gave them his law, and though very often they would rebel against him, yet he would spare them and again call after them. He has raised up men to lead the Israel of God; and though but few have proved truly obedient and faithful, yet he has spared his people. A Moses erred—shall we say, sinned? And after he and Joshua had done their work, bringing in the people into the promised land, then look at the Judges in Israel, whom God raised up to lead his people. How very few of them were truly faithful. Gideon, a mighty man of valor, after subduing his enemies, took their carriage of gold and made an ephod thereof, and put it in his own city, which thing became a snare to him and his house, and yet God spared his people. The leaders of God's people are never in greater danger than when they think they have great success. Look at a David and a Solomon, and the many we have no time nor space to name, for whom the Lord did great things; and yet they departed from the Lord. But the longsuffering of God spared his people. Our Saviour has come and set us an example how to live. The apostle John says we ought to walk as he walked. How few of the leading men in the professed Christian church have been like the Saviour in spirit, in conversation, and in practice; and yet Jesus has been longsuffering, and spared his people. Many judge of the Advent doctrine, while they look at the life of the many of its professed advocates, that it cannot be truth. They forget that the success of God's word has not depended on the faithfulness of this or that individual, but on the longsuffering and faithfulness of God. He in wisdom has chosen his own instruments to carry on his work, while they, individually, are accountable to him for the use they make of this calling. Oh! how many will direct others to the way to Heaven, who, it is to be feared, will never see Heaven themselves. Though God is longsuffering, and not willing that any should perish, yet all will perish, however high their position or great their profession, if they do not truly repent. The Lord waits long, not that a way may be devised to save men in their sins, but that they may repent of their sins. Solemn thought! the danger of not being ready. Though longsuffering, yet the day of the Lord will come. Yes, it will come and try every man's work. May the longsuffering of God lead us to repentance. Ceresco, Mich., Jan. 4, 1868.