Exhortation to Christian Faithfulness
By Philip V. Brigham
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I am trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I wish to say to all that I want to be found without spot or wrinkle upon my garments. Let us watch, and stand fast in the faith, and be strong. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. Paul says, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. O let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, and224put away from among you, and all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; for yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Take, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering, affliction and of patience. Be sober, be vigilant, because the adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour. Dear brethren, let us seek to be faithful; for I believe we are living in the last days, and what we do must be done quickly. Yours in love, hoping to overcome and inherit eternal life. PHILIP V. BRIGHAM.
Lorain, N. Y., Mar. 26th, 1855.