Strength Through Trials and Christ's Suffering
By Emily J. Paine
Dear Brethren and Sisters:—How cheering to the weary, way-worn pilgrim, to read the encouraging epistles of those of like precious faith. Many times has my heart been cheered, encouraged and strengthened in hearing from you through the Review. Though we have some fiery trials to pass through, which seem sometimes too grievous to be borne; yet we have a strong arm to lean upon; a mighty God to trust in, who is acquainted with all our trials and knows best how to deliver us out of them all. I do not ask for less trials, for I know that it is through trial and suffering that the saints are to be purified and fitted to enter the kingdom. But I do pray for sustaining grace, that I may bear all things patiently and not sin, that they may work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While reading in a book, entitled The Sacred Mountains of Mt. Calvary, Christ's agony in the garden, and the sufferings of that lovely, sinless being, as he bore the sins of the whole world, of his love for those who stood weeping around him as he exclaims, "Weep not for me, but for yourselves and your children;" and then in the last and darkest hour when it seemed that the frown of even his Father was upon him; hear that piercing, heart-rending cry, "My God! my God, why hast thou forsaken me," and then to think that all this was endured by the Son of God to redeem us from the curse of a broken law, I felt to exclaim, O that all might see the necessity of keeping all the commandments of God, that they through his death and suffering might be saved. As I read on in the same book I came to a description of the mount of God, or mount Zion, on which stood this same lovely Lamb, and with him an hundred and forty-four thousand, with his Father's name written in their foreheads, and of that new and lovely song which they sang; my whole soul cried out, I want to be there, I must be there; and by the grace of God I will be there. From your unworthy sister and companion in tribulation. EMILY J. PAINE.