BRING OUT THE ROPE

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 24, 1881

BRING OUT THE ROPE.

THE Swiss guides are heroic men. Tremendous exploits of strength and courage are scenes which in old age they review. Mountain-climbers are dependent upon their skill and experience, but no matter what knowledge of Alpine safeguards or perils, they are not able to secure even the hope of safety to those who ask their help, except on one condition, and that is their willingness to be bound together in different passes.

The party sets out in union, with kindly intentions to be helpful to each other. They have a book-knowledge of the way, but every step is new to their feet, and they must trust their guide. For a while a common bond of personal welfare is enough; but see, the guide has halted, and waits for the company to listen. They hear his voice in that clear Alpine air, ringing in stirring tones: "Courage, gentlemen, there is danger here: we must tie the ropes around each man and protect each other!" It is a deceitful snow-bridge over an abysmal cleft in the blue ice! If one man ventures to walk across alone, he may drop between those frozen walls. Bring out the rope, and bind these adventurers so firmly that if a man falls, the strength and steadiness of his fellows may hold him securely! Woe betide the man who goes over the horrible glacier regions of Switzerland alone!

The experienced guides, who know the dangers of this life-journey, tell us that union is strength; that ties of mutual faith and common interest are not all we need; and they bring out the rope of true-hearted association to double the force of each man's weight. We have done it in faith, trusting in our Lord, because we know that there are dangerous passes in the narrow way to the heavenly heights.

A Christian association needs the strength of all the men and women it can link together. Give us the additional security of your influence, dear reader, and accept for yourself the safety of the bond which holds us.—Watchman.