p. 167 | COMMUNICATIONS by H. S. Boyd

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Jan 23, 1855

COMMUNICATIONS.

By H. S. Boyd

From Bro. Boyd.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—With feelings of pleasure I now attempt to address those whom although I have not seen yet I love. I think I can say this evening that I love those that love God and are striving through much tribulation to do his holy will. It has been some time that my heart has been firmly knit with those who by the grace of God have been willing to come out from the world and strive to keep all the commandments of God and suffer inconveniences and persecution from friends, foes, the church and world. I can sympathize with those dear brethren and sisters who, like myself, are situated far from all of like precious faith and cannot enjoy the society of those we love, with whom our hearts long to meet on the Sabbath of the Lord our God. To such let me say, If we live as we should we can enjoy the presence of our Saviour while here, wherever our lot may be cast, and soon we shall enjoy the society of all that blood-bought throng who have come up out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Be not disheartened: our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. Have there not been signs in the sun, and the moon and the stars? and is there not upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and waves roaring? Are not men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth? what next? the powers of heaven shall be shaken and then we shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory. What visions of bright glory open to our view. But stop, are we quite certain that we shall be found of him in peace without spot and blameless? Have we in all that we have done, said and felt, had an eye single to the glory of God? Have we fully come up to Christ's teachings and example? Have we loved one another as he loved us? It is a great thing to come up to our high and holy profession. I feel to pray,

"Lord guide me in the Christian race, And keep my mind intent on thee; Rejoicing when I see thy face, And trusting when I cannot see."

Let us begin anew to pray for an increasing knowledge of self; for a lively, vigorous faith which works by love and purifies the heart; for communion with the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit; for true holiness of heart; for grace that we may hold out to the end, and that God will sanctify prosperity and adversity or whatever he may be pleased to send us to his glory and our eternal good; and while we ask these blessings for ourselves let us unitedly pray for the prosperity of the church, that all disorder and disunion may for ever be done away and that we may be one in Christ, bound by the strongest ties of christian love and fellowship. Oh that we all may be one as the Father is in the Son and the Son in the Father. The past year may be the last one of our pilgrimage here; let us therefore double our diligence for the days are evil, and while we see the signs of Christ's coming thicken around us, let us lift up our heads and rejoice knowing our redemption draweth nigh.

Yours in hope looking for the speedy consummation of all things. H. S. BOYD. Lyme, Dec. 31st, 1854.