A Word to S. D. Adventists.
By Josephine Mott
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: If any of you are becoming disheartened on account of the slanders and scorn of the world, let me say a word to you. Have we any other expectation but that we shall receive scorn and persecution from the world around us? It was what the dear Saviour suffered while in the world, and the servant is not above his Master; and we who are living now in the last days cannot expect anything else but that the world will disown and hate us. Even those who were our dearest friends before we embraced the present truth will now shun us, and pass coldly by with a sneer or bitter mockery. Nay, even those who are our relatives according to the flesh will often be the one who will heap the bitterest reproaches upon our heads, invent the cruelest lies, and circulate the wickedest slanders about us, of any people in the world. But, dear friends, let us bear it all for the sake of the Saviour, who endured so much shame and suffering for us. And let us remember, through all, that we have a promise that if we suffer for righteousness' sake, we shall be happy, and we are enjoined not to be afraid of their terror, neither to be troubled, but ought always to remember that we have a sure Protector, one that will never suffer us to be moved. And we ought always to be ready to give to them that ask of us a reason of our hope with meekness and fear, and always imitate the example of Jesus, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again, but prayed for his persecutors, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” I know it is not in human nature to do this, but blessed be the Lord, through Christ all things are possible unto us, and through him we can even accomplish this difficult task, even to love our bitterest enemies, and pray for them. But it takes a close searching of heart, a resolute crushing down of the old man within us, a determination to follow Christ in all things. We must not let our passions get the ascendancy over us. And we must apply to our hearts the searching testimony of the Lord Jesus, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.” So if we are angry at those who persecute us, and wish evil upon them, instead of praying for them, we have no right to expect that our Heavenly Father will hear us when we call on him. Then let us not, when we are slandered, become angry and quarrel with those that injure us, but the rather let us think we are happy when they shall revile us, and persecute us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely for Christ's sake; for even so persecuted they the prophets that were before us. Not that I think that we should never vindicate ourselves from false charges brought against us. Far from it; for this is absolutely necessary at times, that the cause of truth be not injured. And when it is necessary let us do it in such a meek, dignified, and Christ-like manner as will best glorify the cause of the Redeemer; and let us endeavor by our meekness and gentleness to win them to Christ. And if they obstinately persist in their wicked malice, then the consequences will be on their own heads; and if we have faithfully done our duty, we shall have delivered our own souls and will most surely obtain our reward. The word of God says, and the Strength of Israel will not lie, “The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children, to such as keep his covenant and remember his commandments to do them.” Precious assurance! How it revives the drooping soul! May we, my dear brethren and sisters, so live as to receive the reward of the overcomer, and have a right to the tree of life in the day the Lord shall come to make up his jewels. JOSEPHINE MOTT. Peoria Co., Ill.