A. P. LAWTON by A. P. Lawton

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 25, 1871

A. P. LAWTON

By A. P. Lawton

Apostasy.

SINCE the first advent of our Saviour, there have always been apostates; but this is no argument against the truth. Individuals, churches, and nations, may reject the truths of the Bible; but they cannot change the truths of God. These stand immovable as the throne of Him who gave them to man. On the dreadful night of the Saviour's agony, all forsook him and fled. That they should forsake him in such peril, after having had so many proofs of his being the Son of God, and their only hope, who would have believed? “Will ye also go away?”

These precious truths are dearer to me when I see them suffer from false friends. If the cause of God suffers, so do I. If we would reign with Christ, we must suffer with him. The servant is not above his Lord. We can well afford to fight and bear the cross for him who wore a crown of thorns for us. To the erring, the invitation is, Return unto Me, and I will return unto you. Precious promise! Can you refuse such love? Will you turn away from him who speaks from Heaven? There may be many things hard to bear; but we can do it for Jesus. We are to bear hardness as good soldiers. We may not always know why we are thus tried, but he who numbers our hairs, will, when it is best for us, reveal it to us. The heated furnace is needed to consume the dross and refine the gold. How fearful to be left of God! If his own Son could do nothing of himself, much less we. God cannot dwell where self reigns. In the strength of God, one may chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight.

A. P. LAWTON

W. Winfield, N. Y.