Hope, Faith, and Works.
By John F. Byington
THERE has always been, I believe, a spark of true godliness in the world; a few who have had their eye on the promised inheritance; and though sometimes they have been few indeed, God has always had a chosen people who would not deny his name, neither forsake his cause. That the people of God have to encounter hardships and meet discouragements of a sorrowful kind, God's word plainly testifies. That their reward is not in the present world, but that this is a world of sorrow, the inhabitants of which are subject to pain and death, where a preparation may be made for a better, is equally true, and is found interwoven with the promises and threatenings of the sacred page. And that those alone who prove faithful to the end will receive a crown of life, may also be read from the book of our hope. The experience of many years has taught the people of God that if they would finally reign with him they must suffer for his cause while they journey through the present world. And those who have professed the Advent faith for the last ten years have not found the way to be easier for them than for those who have been faithful in other days. But in living out what they have believed to be the truth, they have been rejected by their brethren, set at naught by those who profess godliness, but in words deny their faith, have met disappointments, have seen their hope deferred, have been betrayed by false brethren, and have seen the cause of their heavenly Master suffer by reason of unfaithful laborers. This agrees with the suffering part of a true follower of Christ; and I trust the hope of those who are yet faithful also agrees with the rejoicing part, which is, as expressed by the apostle Paul, a crown of life laid up in the everlasting kingdom. That the people of God have not yet reached their haven of rest, all know. And that yet an important part of the work of those who profess the present truth is to be accomplished, the servants of the Lord daily feel. And a question of some importance I think is, What is yet to be done? The number who profess to believe the Third Angel's Message is large enough to accomplish much. The leading truths they profess now stand the test of the unerring Word, and cannot be refuted by the wise theologians of this age. It seems to me the lack is with those who profess to be laborers in the vineyard of the Lord. That there are faithful ones who are ready to support the cause with their prayers, with their substance, and with the example they daily set, I doubt not. But it is to be feared there are others who are not for the work wholly; and who do much to destroy the work of the Lord in this evil time. Sometimes the truth causes a sound to be heard in the land; the Spirit of the Lord moves upon the hearts of the people, and the truth takes effect; but how soon it dies away? Were half a dozen scattered here and there who could feel the truth, and feel that they were doing work to stand the test of the final day, I believe those who should hear their testimony would fear for the word of the Lord. Union is strength, is sometimes said in truth, and if the servants of the Lord are not united what can be accomplished? Truth is worth much. If those who profess the present truth are doing the work of the Lord for this time, they occupy an important station. To do the work of the Lord it needs a decision of character which will surmount obstacles. In days past the resurrection has been the hope of the faithful. And for that hope a great cloud of witnesses have not counted their lives dear, have felt that they were pilgrims and strangers in the world, and have counted no sacrifice too dear that when they found a resting place in the grave, they might have this hope. We who live at the present time see that glorious day but a little way off. We see the christian course almost completed; and by strong proof are compelled to believe that ere many years or even months pass away the righteous of all ages will be gathered to mount Zion. And if in days past the people of God have wrought righteousness, obtained promises, out of weakness were made strong, stopped the mouths of lions, by faith in God, and in hope of a better resurrection, what may not the people of God hope for now? If the people of God could once say, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, should be able to separate them from the love of God, what shall we not say for his blessed cause who may hope not to see death; but receive everlasting life at the coming of Jesus, and the resurrection of the just? We will say with them, we are not of those who draw back; for we know that in a little while he that shall come will come and will not tarry. In view of which we are ready to go without the camp bearing the reproach of him who was reproached for us, and who is our hope, remembering that if we do our work faithfully, we shall be admitted to the marriage supper of the Lamb. J. F. BYINGTON.