How They Love One Another.
By Mary Stratton
As a denomination we are small. Our churches are scattered over a great territory, but they are neither numerous nor large. The mass of professors of religion do not come in with us. The way is too strait, the doctrines too unpopular. We are indeed a separate people. When we fully endorse the third angel’s message, it can truly be said, None hold with us in these things. Considering this we ought to be closely united, and love as brethren, in order to live out this last solemn message of truth. A few years ago when Bro. Andrews organized a little church in this place of a dozen members, we felt that our hearts were knit together like the hearts of David and Jonathan. And through all these years of changes the Lord has been pleased to spare our lives so that none of us have fallen by death till recently. In sadness we have lain one of our dearest ones away in the grave. One whose seat was always filled in the Sabbath and prayer-meetings, who never went away without leaving her testimony in favor of the truth, we miss her. Death has at last invaded our little company and taken one dear to us all. O death, come when thou wilt, thou are terrible. “The groan, the knell, the pall, the bier,
And all we know or dream of here
Of misery, is thine.”
But the words of our blessed Saviour come in just here: “I am the resurrection and the life, and he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” These texts bring solace to many an aching heart. “The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven . . . and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.” We are exhorted to comfort one another with these words. And what a comfort to those living right in the time when these precious promises are to be fulfilled. I hope to be humble and faithful so that I may share in the reward that will be given to God’s dear people in a little while.