p. 24 | The Former Days by N. W. Allee

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 30, 1902

“The Former Days”

By N. W. Allee

Speaking of the experiences of those who pass through many years of waiting for the coming Lord, the apostle Paul says, “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings; being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions,” etc. Heb. 10: 32, 33. These “former days” were full of intense interest when the enlightenment came to us from the “more sure word of prophecy,” indicating so clearly that the “generation” was reached that should witness the advent of the King in his glory.

How our hearts thrilled with the thought that soon we and our little ones should be gathered home! But days, months, and years have passed. The children have grown to manhood; struggles and conflicts have been endured. Many of the old soldiers have fallen. But praise the Lord, the great “advent message” moves on, and our courage is now quickened, and our hearts rejoice, as we see such sure evidences of the reviving of the spirit of “the former days.”

Then how eagerly, gladly, we told the precious story of a soon-coming Saviour. Our satchels and pockets had room for tracts to distribute. We “scattered tracts” wherever we went. We felt the value of the truth they contained. We sold them, we loaned and gave them away. We who held meetings in tents and schoolhouses always had a supply of tracts, and called attention to them from the stand, earnestly inviting the people to come and examine them; and we had a real interest in telling them what each one contained. And now I wish to be one of those who will make “a united effort to scatter tracts like the leaves of autumn.”

Will all our churches awake, gird on the armor for service, and go forth? These good tracts with which the campaign is to be opened are most timely. Please read the articles in the REVIEW AND HERALD of December 9 and 16, regarding the great campaign to be put in operation immediately, to scatter tracts like the leaves of autumn. God, by his Spirit, has said it. Shall we do it?

This is our opportunity. Paul said of his mission, “I am debtor,” “I am ready,” “I am not ashamed.” Rom. 1: 14-16. What say you, my brother, my sister? We have reached a tremendous crisis, a decisive issue, that eternally decides the destiny of every soul,—even mine and yours. God says, in language most intense and solemn, yet to sound above every other voice, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.”

We are the people, and ours is the work, symbolized by the third angel flying and sounding with a loud voice the last call to mercy and pardon. O that God will help us to sense the privilege of the hour!

Is not Mordecai’s instruction to Esther, at the time of their great crisis, especially applicable just now? “Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise . . . from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4: 13, 14.

N. W. ALLEE.