p. 149 | The Last Call by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 3, 1874

The Last Call.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

THE prophetic word of God and its fulfillment shuts us up to the conclusion that the time has come for the closing message of probation to be given. This being so, earth has never before heard a message so solemn and important. The eternal destiny of the living generation is to be decided by it.

All the great lines of prophecy declare with united voice that the end of the world's sinful career is at hand. Every sign given in the word of God declares that the perils of the last days are upon us. Wickedness, as foretold, abounds; and infidelity and lawlessness have almost reached the highest summit, or rather lowest depth, possible.

The word and works of God being infallible, if the time has come for the last message, the message is come also; and we cannot reasonably come to any other conclusion, but that the work now being done, claiming to be the fulfillment of the predicted message is genuine—that it is in truth the work of God. How solemn then the warning message now being sounded through the earth! How important the precious moments that remain of probationary time! Oh, that God would help us to realize it! May we have grace to act as though we believe the truth that pertains to this time. Never did weightier responsibilities rest upon a people than those that rest upon those who know the thrilling truth connected with the third angel's message.

Brethren, it is my highest aspiration to have a humble part in this work of the Lord—to do the very work which God would have me do. And I fervently pray God to grant me this portion, and still give me a part in his work. The reward of well-doing will be sure to all who shall have done well. R. F. COTTRELL.