Take Warning by M. E. Connell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 28, 1871

Take Warning.

By M. E. Connell

“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it? Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” Amos 3: 6–8.

The wise shall understand, and a word to them is sufficient. God has spoken to us by the prophets, and his sure word is fulfilled before our eyes.

We have seen the “signs in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.” Awful calamities on both sea and land have been greatly multiplied in 1871. The cities and the forests have been visited with unparalleled scourges, which have opened the eyes of some. Unaccountable and unheard-of judgments and perils are increasing in every part of the world.

A few will acknowledge that God has done it. These are but gentle hints of the coming troubles. Surely, the judgments of God are in the earth, yet the mighty tide of evil is sweeping on, and the earth is again being filled with violence. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear, yet they will not turn to God. A merchant in this city, to-day, snatched a moment from his worldly cares, to look at the daily paper, and after glancing at the headings of news items, dropped the paper, and almost frightened us with his manner, and the words, “Oh! my God, what will another year bring upon the inhabitants of the earth?” I talked with him an hour, and he promised to attend our lectures.

It would seem that God is trying to get the attention of the meek of the earth, that they may heed his warnings and escape.

Who shall stand when he appeareth? The tendency downward is strong. It will not do to trifle here on the very brink of ruin. Now is the time to break away—to shut the eyes and ears to evil, and shun all appearance of it. All worldly pleasures and carnal affections are deceitful and stupefying, and will lead to certain ruin. Are we indulging in anything, word, thought, or deed, that is doubtful, then it must be dropped at once and forever. No time to trifle now. There is too much at stake. Eternal life is to be gained or lost in a very short time. Let none delay the full consecration of all to God.

We all know that self must die, and that nothing short of the whole heart will be accepted. The sincere cry of the inmost soul of our heart must be, “HERE LORD I GIVE MYSELF AWAY.” If a soul can only be willing to pass through the death struggles of the old man—to die to all sin and folly—then the all-glorious future of the world to come will be secured.

To all my dear friends, who feel before God that they are still lukewarm and unsaved from sin, I extend the earnest entreaty to decide the important question now. A little more delay, and it is forever too late. Think of all the warnings. Think of God’s long-suffering. And oh! think of the shortness of time and the coming judgments. Only those who have clean hands and a pure heart will stand. Oh! then, let every soul arouse at once, and strive mightily to enter that straight gate of a new and deeper experience, which leads to the ocean of peace, known only to those who give up all. Only hide in Jesus and his peace will fill the soul. To-day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts by delay.

Spare thy people, O Lord, and help them to start now, and heed all thy warnings while it is called to-day. M. E. CONNELL. San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 7, 1871.