Shall we Heed the Warning?
By JOS. CLARKE
As I read Testimony, No. 20, I thought of Prov. 17 : 16 : “Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool, to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?” Here are twenty pointed, thrilling Testimonies, and I fear few of us are heeding them as we should. Oh, the forbearance, the patience, and the mercy of God! There is something here for all; truths, reproofs, warnings, invitations, counsel, comfort, instruction. None may say, This is not for me; but here we find truths of general application. But alas! not all are disposed to receive the heavenly testimony. To such we say, Your loss is infinite. Does God stoop to converse with fallen man? and does poor man turn away his ear? Much is said in this Testimony to leading brethren, who have been called of God to bear burdens. These are men, some of them, who have toiled and labored hard in the work. They are dear to us, for their works’ sake. But they are human. Let us pray much for them, as they go forth to fight in this terrible contest. Satan, who knows the weakness of man, directs his fiercest attacks at those who lead out. He counts the value of experienced officers, and, if possible, will destroy them. Brethren, let us gird on the armor anew, and unitedly go forth, in the strength of the Lord. He will protect us amid the perils of the last days. If we heed these testimonies, with humility and devotion to the cause, with an unspotted life, and a zealous, laborious effort in the cause of God, we may overcome. Here is a prize put into our hands to get wisdom; have we a heart to procure this great reward? A man having a capital put into his hand, for the acquisition of wealth, would certainly be foolish to let it lie idle till old age closed the scene; how much more when such an offer as this is made to us of eternal life. JOS. CLARKE.