Preparation for the Judgment.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
Our probation is soon to close. The cases of all living upon the earth are soon to be decided. We are warned of the fact. The tribunal is in session, and we know not how soon our cases may be called. Yet how slow to realize it. How little stirred by such solemn and awful truths. Observe the dying Christian who is sensible that his probation is about to terminate. How carefully he reviews his life. How anxious to confess every fault—to put away every sin—and to know his acceptance with God. How earnest to warn the living to seek Christ, to give their hearts to God, to give up the world, and to live in preparation for the world to come. But how is it with us who know from prophecy fulfilled, and from the signs of the times, that the great decisive day is right upon us? Are we acting in accordance with this faith? Are we laboring like those who know they have much to do, and but little time in which to do it? Are we striving to save others, as it were pulling them out of the fire? The great lines of prophecy of the four great kingdoms of the earth have been fulfilled. Signs in the sun, moon, and stars, have appeared. Light upon the prophetic periods of the Scriptures has been demonstrated; and the proclamation has been made, “The hour of his judgment is come.” And since these things have been done, according to the predictions of the word of God, the anger of the nations, and the holding of the winds for the sealing of the servants have been manifested, the sealing message, bearing the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, has gone forth, the powerful workings of Satan through Spiritualism, so abundantly predicted in the Bible, has been sweeping over the world, the demand for the image of the beast by the union of church and state, in our own beloved country, and the enforcement of the Papal institution of Sunday-keeping to the subversion of the law of the Most High, is organizing its host for immediate and decided action, and last of all, the consuming Papacy, as if in a death-struggle, is speaking those great words of blasphemy, on account of which the beast is to be slain, and his body given to the devouring flame. The Pope in his dotage, his power dwindled to next to nothing, is declared infallible, and all is fulfilled of him except his destruction. And are we living and acting as though we believed that all these signs predicted in the sure word, would pass by and the end not come? If we believe, where is our corresponding action? O, let us be wise. Let us act upon our faith. Let us be in earnest to save souls from ruin. Let us prepare for the Judgment which is right before us. Let us cherish the spirit of Him who gave himself for us, who sacrificed all on our account. Let us improve the little time remaining, in striving, in a self-denying, self-sacrificing manner, to save souls for whom Christ died. May God arouse us, and help us to work, ere the time for working shall be past. Oh God! give me a part in thy work.