Questions for Christians.
By C. R. Austin
PERMIT me to ask a few questions. Are we living near the second coming of Christ? Will he soon finish all his pleading for poor, perishing sinners, and cease to be our advocate at the court of Heaven? Do we believe these are solemn truths, that God would have impressed upon the minds of this generation? Are we purifying our own souls by obedience to the present truth, and reflecting the light we have received from the sure word of prophecy, upon those around us? Have we not each a work to do for the Master? and though our duties may be confined to a lowly and private life, will not God require just as earnest and faithful improvement of light received, and talents given, as he will of those he has placed as “watchmen unto the house of Israel?” Are there not those around us who have ears to hear? It may be but a child, who is listening for the voice of the Good Shepherd, and needs to have the eye of faith directed to our great High Priest in his closing work before the ark of testimony within the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. The cause of God needs zealous workers; and because the laborers are so few, he has prompted the managers of our Publishing Association to send out, by the aid of tract and missionary societies, silent messengers in every direction to search for the honest-hearted. The REVIEW visits many homes as a stranger. What shall its language be? Will it say, I come to bring you valuable reading, many selections from the best books and papers in circulation (and if they have been read elsewhere they are really worth reading again)? Or shall it say, I come to tell you that earth’s glorious King is coming soon, to raise from their dusty beds the pure and good of all ages, and bestow upon them, with the righteous living, the gift of immortality, and to begin his reign of love and peace, which shall never end? Brethren and sisters, awake! and be in earnest to help in this blessed work that will so soon close. Let the pens that are so faithfully used for social pleasure speak out for God and his cause. And as every REVIEW goes forth, carrying the notes of warning from the last message of mercy to a fallen world, penned by the faithful few whose names are seldom missed from the paper, let the remaining space be filled with ardent testimonies from hearts warmed by the Spirit of God and filled with love to him and his sacred truth.