RENEWED CONSECRATION by Albert Stone

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 10, 1878

RENEWED CONSECRATION.

By Albert Stone

The commencement of a new year presents occasion for profitable thought and inquiry. Every one should institute an inquisition respecting his character and the reasonableness of his hopes.

During the past year, the probation of many has ended. Whether ours will close during the present year we know not; but the probability that it may be so with us, and the certainty that it will be so with many, may well incite us to see that our accounts are daily adjusted with God and all men. Let us do this from the right stand-point, that we be not deceived. Have we been adding to the weight and value of Christian character during the past year? Has our faith been of a kind to cause us to be drawing nearer to God? Has the truth assimilated us more and more to Christ, our divine Lord? Have our closets witnessed frequent, tearful, agonizing prayers? Do trials seem lighter than formerly because of increasing courage, and because the armor is girt more closely about us? Has the term of probation furnished by another year been subservient to the conquest of our passions, and to the better regulation of our affections? Are we more patient and humble, more disposed to exercise forbearance, more ready to forgive, more inclined to do kind offices to the evil and unthankful, more pure in heart, more circumspect in our conversation, more exemplary in our lives, than we were at the beginning of the year just closed?

Dear brethren and sisters, let the time to come be an improvement on the past. Let us work while the day lasts; for soon the night will come wherein no man can work.

ALBERT STONE.