p. 139 | GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY by A. R. Fitch

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 3, 1877

GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY.

By A. R. Fitch

When I contemplate the love, patience, and mercy of God toward the human race from the earliest period of its existence until the present day, feelings of sorrow fill my heart at the ingratitude manifested in return. How often in times of old he commissioned holy angels to come to earth to reprove men of sin and to warn them of threatened judgments! Prophets have been raised up to show men and nations what God's will was concerning them; and their warnings have not only been slighted, but in numerous cases the prophets themselves have been put to death.

But this was not enough. He let his own dear Son come to earth, take upon himself our human natures, endure, suffer, and die, that we might have life. But how cruelly he was treated by those that should have known the day of their visitation! Think for one moment of his sufferings here at the hands of sinful men. How he was mocked, scourged, spit upon, and put to death—the cruel death of the cross. No wonder nature robed herself in gloom, the veil was rent in twain, and the earth shook.

But he triumphed over death, and now offers his blood for the remission of sins. Reader, have you felt its regenerating power upon your heart? Have you found peace in believing on him? Have you learned to love and obey God's holy law? If so, well. If not, why not? Has he not done enough for you yet? Has not the sacrifice been great enough? Let me counsel you to be wise now for yourself. Do not let sin rule you, for the wages thereof is death, but seek ye the kingdom of God. Haste ere the hour of probation closes, ere the One that now pleads for us shall have finished his work in the sanctuary of Heaven, ere he puts on his kingly garments, and comes again, crowned “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Then it will be forever too late. Choose ye the narrow path that leads to life eternal.

A. R. FITCH.