Labor and Rest by A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 4, 1871

Labor and Rest.

By A. S. Hutchins

“’Tis sweet to work for Jesus, There’s resting by-and-by.”

In every generation, faithful servants of God have, by their devoted lives and ardent labors in his cause, borne an unimpeachable testimony to the truthfulness of the above sentiment.

Sustained by the soul-inspiring thought of saving souls, of glorifying God, and that there remaineth “a rest to the people of God,” thousands have worn out their precious lives in his delightful service, and fallen asleep with the sweetest assurance of awaking to life and immortality.

The millions of martyrs who have laid down their lives in the dismal dungeon, or upon the torturing rack, or the chopping block, or yielded them up at the burning stake, “not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection,” have left the most conclusive evidence that ’tis not only sweet to work for Jesus, but sweeter far to die for him than to lose communion with him and sacrifice the hope of rest in his kingdom. They were “faithful unto death,” and are now awaiting the promised “crown of life” (Rev. 2:10), of transcendent splendor, of surpassing brightness.

Some profitable reflections were recently awakened in my mind, mingled with reproofs of conscience for having been no more consecrated to my divine Master, and for manifesting so little interest in his work; on reading a little of the personal history of William Grimshaw, a devoutly pious minister of the gospel of the eighteenth century.

It is recorded of him, “So fully did he lay himself out to do good, that for fifteen or sixteen years together, he was accustomed, besides visiting the sick and performing other pastoral duties, to preach fifteen, twenty, and often thirty times a week. During all this time he was only once suspended from his labors by sickness; though he ventured upon the bleak mountains in all weathers. * He has often preached five times in a day, rarely less than three or four, and to do this would often travel forty or fifty miles. When pressed by his friends to spare himself, he would say, ‘Let me labor now; I shall have rest enough by-and-by. I cannot do enough for Christ who has done so much for me.’”

Rest enough by-and-by. Yes, rest from every pain and grief—rest beyond the reach of sorrow, beyond the power of Satan, away from death—rest with all the ransomed, blood-washed throng; with holy angels, with Christ our dear Saviour, and the Father who gave him to die for us.

In view of this, can we not cheerfully take up every cross, endure every trial, patiently bear every reproach for the Master? I think I hear an affirmative response from the “worn and weary” pilgrim. Then press on. God loves you. His dear Son prayed for you on the dark and doleful night of his betrayal, and holy angels love to minister unto you. Redemption is near.

“The prize is straight before thee, There’s resting by-and-by.”

A. S. HUTCHINS.