Communication from Bro. Lusk.
By W. J. Lusk
Dear Bro. White:—The little band in this place still hold on to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and feel disposed to follow Christ and his apostles in the truths of the Gospel which so plainly and positively condemn those, who are from week to week desecrating God's holy Sabbath and trampling beneath their feet that immutable law which was given to man in his Eden purity, and which was "published95in the most solemn manner, to the assembled tribes of Israel, in the wilderness of Horeb." We see the necessity of greater humiliation of heart, and of a more holy and entire consecration of all to the service of our God. We wish to be firmly established in the "Present Truth;" and with pleasure and sincere joy, do we attempt by the divine assistance of God to "keep his commandments, and the faith of Jesus." The truth grows brighter and brighter; and many times while investigating the word of God, new light breaks in upon the mind causing thrills of joy to vibrate through the soul, which never before have been realized; and we are ready to exclaim with the Psalmist: "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Ps. cxix, 97. But those who "live godly in Christ Jesus," keeping all the commandments, and bowing in humble submission to the will of the divine Law-giver, and taking the sure word of God as their rule of faith and practice in contradistinction to the popular theories of the so-called divines of the present day, who think to change times and laws by their vain traditions, must expect to suffer persecution from those, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Tim. iii, 5. It is a lamentable fact, that those who belong to the popular church in this place, as well as those who are not connected with it, are averse to the third angel's message, and stand ready to reject those solemn truths by which God in his mercy proclaims to them their only hope of salvation, and final escape from the seven last plagues, which will be poured out on the living, wicked previous to the Second Advent of Christ, and immediately after the completion of his work as great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary. It is with deep interest that we reflect upon the fact, that we are now living under the third angel's message, amid the light and blaze of God's truth; the last message mixed with mercy that ever will be given or proclaimed to a lost and ruined world. Solemn indeed is the thought that this message must cease, notwithstanding false prophets and false teachers are bringing in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and crying peace, peace, when there is no peace, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? Upon such will come swift destruction, and the righteous retributions of an insulted Deity, amid the gathering storms of the seven last plagues, that will be poured out upon all beast worshipers. "If any man worship the beast, and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. xiv, 9-12. While Christ is fulfilling the Priesthood in the heavenly Sanctuary, and while the sealing time is being consummated, we need not expect to see the righteous execution of God's judgment upon those who openly violate his commandments, and teach men so; but when the moment arrives that the cleansing of the Sanctuary shall be perfected, and the forgiveness of iniquity rendered complete, in his great work for sin, by the presentation of his own blood, or by virtue of its merits, then he will be ready to appear the second time without sin unto salvation, [Heb. ix, 23.] taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. i, 8. Then every man shall be rewarded according to his work, for he says in Rev. xxii, 12, "And behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." In conclusion let me say to all those, who from week to week, are desecrating God's holy Sabbath and teaching men so, that the word of God makes your condemnation sure, which condemnation is sounded in your ears like the Sinai trumpet long and loud, while the pure principles of the gospel, speak, with one burning burst of holy indignation against all commandment-breakers, false prophets, false teachers, and false doctrines. It is a melancholy fact, one which causes every Christian's heart to kindle with emotions of the deepest feeling, and I might say with contempt and shame, that popularity is the standard of the churches at the present day, around which, the ministers of heresy call their devotees to worship, as the shrine of fashion and public taste. We do not wonder that the Spirit of God has left the churches, and that Mount Zion no longer yields green pastures, nor the river of life still waters, for them. Therefore "Howl ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished." Jer. xxv, 34. We do not wonder at the great spiritual dearth under which the churches of our land have been suffering, when we take into consideration that they have universally rejected all the important truths that have been presented to them; even the Second coming of Christ, the King of glory, they have treated, and continue to treat, with the most unrelenting contempt and scorn, as much so, as did the sin-hardened Jews, the doctrine of his First Advent. Indeed, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Rev. xviii, 2. Hence while we see the church under such a state of high cultivation in regard to sin and iniquity, we can but reasonably expect that she will continue to trample under foot the law of God, the holy Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and triumph in her pride, in her boasted riches, and in her popish abominations, notwithstanding the solemn appeal of the third angel's message is being sounded throughout her borders. But while the apostate churches of Christendom are thus fallen, and the measure of their iniquity overflowing, we rejoice that there are a few among them, a remnant, that do most deeply deplore their departure from the pure principles and living faith of the gospel, whose pious hearts swell with emotions of deep sorrow while they are called to mourn over the desolations of Zion. "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev. xviii, 4. God's people will be rescued from that destroying power, the man of sin spoken of in Daniel vii, 25, for they are commanded in the most imperative terms, by the Most High to come out of her, (the church) and if they obey the call, they will escape the vengeance of God to be poured out in the seven last plagues, or according to Jer. li, 45, that every man may deliver his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord. Hence we conclude that God's people, those who have from the beginning been chosen to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, [2 Thess. ii, 13.] will obey the call, and come out from under the satanic influence of an apostate church, and proclaim themselves to be free from the cunningly devised fables, and false theories, which have so effectually been thrown around them, by the siren tongue of false teachers, and an antichristian priesthood. May God help his people to come out from under the deleterious influence of antinomianism, which is causing millions to wreck their eternal all upon its deceptive shoals. Some in this village and vicinity have already broken loose from the deadly evils of sectarianism, by which satan has so long held them captive at his will; but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ, we are now happy and free, and are again permitted to breathe the pure atmosphere of heaven, basking in the sunshine of divine truth as developed in the rays of redeeming love and mercy, having a faith which is founded upon the pure and unerring principles of the gospel of Christ; of which gospel we are not ashamed; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Rom. i, 16. Therefore brethren we may rest assured that while we are keeping all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, that our hope is founded upon the rock bottom of eternal truth, and the devil with all his devices, and his innumerable company of votaries, shall not be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. Therefore having the sure word of prophecy, we continue to look for the glorious appearing of our heavenly King; and the great solemn truth, that his Second Advent is just at hand, even at the door; is engraven indelibly on every heart that glories in the cross of Christ, or triumphs over the beast, and his image, through the victory that has been won, by keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. O, glorious expectation of the glorious appearing of our great High Priest, whose office work in the heavenly Sanctuary will soon terminate, and with its termination, will be unalterably fixed the destiny of the world. Then he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. May the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ, for the burning glory of the day of God is near, and those only who do his commandments have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Yours in the patient waiting for Christ.
W. J. Lusk.
Goodrich, Mich., March 27th, 1854.