Peace in Keeping God’s Law
By A. S. Hutchins
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Though it has been but a short time since I possessed moral courage sufficient, and could exercise faith enough in God, to publicly declare my belief in the third angel's message, and my determination to keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, yet I can say that I know from happy experience that "great peace" have they that love the law of God. In view of what God has done for my soul, since making the resolution in my heart to leave a fallen church, and connect myself with the "church of the living God," I often feel that "No mortal tongue can shew my joys,
Nor can an angel tell them." Amid the popularity, fashion and custom; confusion, coldness and death of the nominal churches with which I had been laboring for years, when first I heard the sound of the third angel's message, "my feet were almost gone; my steps were well nigh slipped. But the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple." I now rejoice in his blessed name that I have been taken from the dismal, gloomy, miry swamp of Babylon, and that my feet have been planted and established upon the last message of mercy to man. O, how great the change effected in my religious sentiments! How changed my feelings—how much more enrapturing my prospect of heaven! Indeed a new world of reflection and meditation seems presented to the mind. When I read my Bible it appears like a new revelation from God, for many parts of it, once dark and hard to be understood, I am now able to comprehend. The "Holy City, New Jerusalem," and the final abode of the saints, the "New Earth," being now made literal to my mind, appear much more glorious than before. I often catch a glimpse of them through the telescope of faith, and long to be there. Again, instead of looking through the long dim vista of many years, to that glorious morn when Christ shall appear, to call the righteous dead from their dusty beds, clothed with immortality, and to redeem those who shall have "gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name," I do firmly believe that moment fraught with such solemn events, near, very near at hand. And the words, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City," [Rev. xxii, 14,] make sure a haven of sweet repose beneath the cloudless sky of a blessed eternity, to all who believe in, and live out the principles of the third angel's message. O, dear brethren, do we fully realize the necessity of deep and ardent devotion in this blessed truth? Are we sufficiently watchful over our thoughts, words and ways, and careful to see that they all please God? Are we ready to confess our faults one to another, that our sins may all be blotted out, while our Great High Priest is in the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary? for when his work is done there, it will be said, "He that is filthy, let him be filthy still." When I reflect upon what God is doing for the remnant of his people in these last days, my heart swells with warm and lively gratitude to his holy name; and I often think if each drop of the vast expanse of the Ocean's rolling waters were to become animate, and vocal, they could not in time, sufficiently praise God for his tender mercies, the long loving kindness and innumerable blessings bestowed upon those who look for the appearing of his dear Son. Yours, with a steadfast resolution never to cast away my confidence in the present truth, which hath great recompense of reward," A. S. HUTCHINS.
Stowe, Vt., Aug. 4th, 1852.