Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together.
By MARY STRATTON
Some of the Lord's servants go into a new place, give a course of lectures, bring out a few on the truth, organize a church, and pass on to other places, leaving the precious cause of God in the hands of the church to carry it forward or let it go down just as they choose. A portion of the responsibility ought to rest on every member. And how pleasant and easy the burden would be if every one would bear his or her part. But is it so? That is the question. Every lover of the truth can promptly answer, No. Our Sabbath and prayer-meetings are appointed every week. When it is fair weather, a majority of the church will be there. But what if it is cloudy, or cold, or the wind blows? Why, a few will be there unless the weather is positively forbidding, and sit and wait and look for others that ought to be there till the time for meeting passes, and then have a little prayer-meeting and go home feeling not very much encouraged surely. I am glad to know that there are some who can be depended upon. They are like pillars in the temple on which you may lean for support, and are worth their weight in gold in the cause of God. It is good to know when the Sabbath morning comes that somebody will be at meeting. And it is not difficult to tell who, beforehand. If there are signs of rain, or the traveling is bad, the very ones who would go twice that distance on business under the same circumstances, will remain at home, and try to think they have a reasonable excuse. I do not like to hear any one pray for the Lord to bless such ones at home. It is asking an impossibility. They ought indeed to be prayed for, that the Lord would make them feel so keenly that they are out of the path of duty that there will never be a repetition of the same fault. Men engaged in a worldly enterprise put forth all the energy the case requires. They expend time and means, and, if need be, burn the midnight oil, sacrificing health and happiness, all to gain some worldly object. We need men who will act as energetically in the cause of present truth, steady to the one purpose, and that, the advancement of the cause of God. Is it true that the last message of mercy is now going forth to bring out a people and fit them up for translation? Is it also true that a dark cloud, like a heavy pall hangs over the destiny of the wicked? The Bible teaches these great truths, and we cannot avoid the conclusion that every one who sincerely believes the third angel’s message will be alive and interested. If we have trials and discouragements, let us go to the house of prayer, and share them with our brethren and sisters. A brother who has not a heart in him to help another up instead of down, even if he has erred, is not worthy of the name we bear. It is safe trusting ourselves in the hands of God’s dear people. MARY STRATTON.