Come by J. H. Ginley

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 2, 1872

Come.

By J. H. Ginley

THIS word is the first of a series of very comforting invitations and promises found interspersed throughout the word of God for the encouragement of his people. Among the many we will notice but a few:

1. Num. 10:29: “Come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.”

2. Isa. 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

3. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. Isa. 55:1: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

The word also admits of four divisions; namely, C, for consideration, O, for obedience, M, for mortality, and E, for eternity.

Consideration is the careful study of anything which engages our attention. Under this head the Bible is full of wise counsel and judicious instruction. In Deut. 4:39, 40, the word is first found in connection with this impressive injunction: “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in Heaven above; and upon the earth beneath; there is none else. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

Ps. 50:22: “Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” A consideration of our duty to God and to our fellow-men should demand our first attention, as none have a right to retire from doing good at all times and upon all occasions.

2. Obedience. Those who order their steps aright must do it through obedience. This is a most difficult habit to acquire, whether in youth, in middle life, or in old age. Many think their dignity is lost the moment they obey. Hear the word upon this point. Ex. 19:5, 6: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.” 1 Sam. 15:19: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken, than the fat of rams.” Rom. 5:19: “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” 2 Cor. 10:5, 6: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” Heb. 5:8, 9: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

Now is the time for us to seek meekness and humility, and to learn lessons of wisdom by errors of the past, and by a life of obedience

in future, strive for the joys of an endless life.

3. Mortality. The work of the death-angel is seen everywhere. In many dwellings he has his implements furnished to his hand, and is indirectly invited to his fatal work by the unphysiological habits of the devotees of fashion. Thus disease is seen everywhere. The high and low, young and old, yield alike to it. The seeds of sickness are sown broadcast. Disease and decrepitude greet us on either hand. Disobedience is bringing its sure results.

Sickness arises from violations of nature’s laws, and can be lessened only by a compliance with the requirements of physiological laws. Thus an adult at each breath consumes a pint of air, and, allowing about eighteen inspirations per minute, two hogsheads in an hour. During eight hour’s sleep he thus consumes sixteen hogsheads of air. If compelled to breathe this air in a corrupted state (and it soon becomes corrupted in a close room), a depression of spirits will follow; and this, long continued, will tell fearfully upon the health of all who thus expose themselves.

4. Eternity. This division of the subject leads us to contemplate an unexplored region, and yet one whose reality we must all soon try. But faint and few are the rays which have yet reached us from that far-off and unseen region. It is a place “whose portals are pierced only by the eye of faith, and from whence no tidings are received save from the tongue of prophecy.” But of one thing we all are certain: that each will be assigned some place of life and happiness, or of darkness and death in the mysterious kingdom. Here the accounts of all will meet a final adjustment. Then shall the righteous enter upon their endless life-tour of exploring God’s handiwork. World upon world will unfold to the immortal vision of those who shall be accounted worthy to share its glories, and age after age will be spent in ascribing praise to the Father, and to the Son who has purchased them everlasting blessings by his own death and suffering.

Now the invitation is given to all, that they may secure this heavenly inheritance—a land of perpetual bloom and beauty. Who will obey? Who will relinquish their claims to the joys and fashions of earth, for a hope of Heaven? Let none say by word or action, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” The year 1871 has just drawn to a close. Those who are engaged in business have looked over their books of accounts and made preparations for a final adjustment at the end of the year. But how stands the accounts of Christ’s followers who have acted as agents, and otherwise, in his cause? Let us all look well to these accounts, that they be not too heavy against us. Let us maintain a clean record throughout the coming year.

Judgments and warnings have been faithfully given us at various times and in diverse manner; and if any of us come short of the goodly inheritance, it will be the fault of ourselves only.

J. H. GINLEY.

Battle Creek, Mich.