SEEING that there are many of our dear brethren and sisters who, in keeping the commandments of God, have to endure a great deal of opposition and persecution, I thought to say a few words to such, by way of encouragement. Brethren, we are confident that we are living in the time when the kingdom of God is about to appear, and we desire to inherit it; but do we expect to find the way in which we are to walk, in order to gain admittance into this kingdom, a smooth way, without any briers or thorns in it? If we do, we will find our mistake; for "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God;" [Acts xiv, 22;] and if we think we shall enter the kingdom without tribulation, we need not expect to be of that great number which John saw stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; for "these are they which came out of great tribulation," &c. Rev. vii, 14. Do we think that merely to believe that we ought to keep all the commandments will secure for us an inheritance in this kingdom?
Let us see what our Lord says: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke ix, 23. What is it to follow Christ? When is one person said to be following in the footsteps of another? Is it not when he does the same works that the other did? Christ testifies that he kept his Father's commandments; [John xv, 10;] and if we would follow him, we also must keep the commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John v, 3.
Again our Lord says, "He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." John x, 38. And the apostle James says, "Though a man say he hath faith, and have not works, it doth not profit: faith cannot save him." Again faith without works is dead. James ii, 14, 17, 26. Thus we see that though we believe in keeping the Sabbath, yet we must keep it whether we are persecuted for so doing or not; otherwise our faith is dead and cannot save us. Do we expect to become heirs of the kingdom, by violating God's holy commandments, for the sake of keeping peace in our house? I tell you nay! "Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me." "If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." Matt. x, 34-37; Luke xiv, 26. We are taught that we must, (if need be,) forsake all, even our nearest friends, for the sake of following after Christ.
Brethren, do we prize the inheritance of the saints so highly that we are prepared to make such a sacrifice as is here required of us? If we do not, let me tell you, we are not Christ's disciples. Do we suppose that to keep the commandments for a while, and then when persecution and oppression rage, to turn back, is going to secure this blessed inheritance for us? If we do, we will find our calculations to come very far short. Paul says, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries." "Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Heb. vi, 4-6; x, 26, 27, 38, 39. Peter says, "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." 2 Pet. ii, 20, 21. May the Lord help us to persevere unto the end. Says Jesus, "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev. ii, 10. "Behold I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Rev. iii, 11. Brethren, if we turn from the "holy commandment," we are sure to lose our crown, and some one else will take it.
Let us now see what we can find to encourage us to suffer patiently while on our pilgrimage in the enemy's land. There are very many promises that are precious to the true child of God. The Lord help us to lay hold of them with full assurance of faith.—Matt. v, 10-12. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Rom. viii, 18. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
2 Cor. iv, 17. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
2 Tim. ii, 12. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him." 1 Pet. iv, 12, 13. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
Matt. x, 22. "But he that endureth to the end shall be saved." 1 Pet. iii, 14. "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled."
Luke xviii, 29, 30. "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come, life everlasting."
By looking at these few promises contained in the Bible, we see that there are great inducements held out to encourage us. Our blessed Lord has gone to prepare a place for us, and he says, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself: that where I am there ye may be also." John xiv, 3. O heart-cheering promise!—Jesus is coming for us. Yes, soon we expect to see183him coming in the clouds of heaven, with all his holy angels. Then the sleeping saints will burst the bars of death, and come forth in immortal youth. Then the living righteous will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, from mortal to immortality, and all shine forth as the stars of heaven. Then will we be free from all care and pain, suffering and anguish, oppression and persecution. Then will we have no more temptation. Then we will no more have to mingle in society with those who hate God, and despise his law. Then will our hearts no more be pained at seeing the holy Sabbath of the Lord desecrated; for "it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." Isa. lxvi, 23. Then shall we meet all those who died in faith, not having received the promises. Then shall we meet all those millions that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. And above all, then shall we see the lovely Jesus, him who was once a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, him who bore our sins upon Mount Calvary, who died to redeem us from the power of the grave. Then shall we walk the golden streets of the New Jerusalem, and eat the fruit of the tree of life.—Do we realize how soon all these joys are to be participated in by those that endure to the end? I fully believe that within a very short time the third angel’s message is to go with a loud cry, when the 144,000 will be sealed. Then will come the bitter persecution; then the plagues, The Lord help us to do his commandments, that we may be prepared to stand in the time of trouble, and finally to stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb.
J. B. BEZZO.
Franciscaville, Mich., Nov. 22d, 1853.