Trials, Trust, and Christian Reformation
Sr. Judd of Smithfield writes:—"I often wish I could live where I could meet with the dear saints here, but I anticipate one day of meeting with them in the New Earth, to go no more out for ever; and then again I fear, I am so unreconciled at times to the severe trials and sore conflicts I have to encounter by the way, that I shall come short of that rest that remains for the people of God. 'Here are afflictions and trials severe;
Here is no rest, is no rest.
Here I must part with the friends I hold dear,
Yet I am blest! I am blest!' "David says, 'When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up;' and he has promised to be a Father to the fatherless, yea, and blessed be his holy name he has verified his promise in days past even to such as I am. I will trust him for days to come. 'What tho' the billows of life darkly roll,
O do not fear, do not fear.
Friends all forsake thee and cares press thy soul,
Be of good cheer, of good cheer.' "I want to tell you a little about one of our ministers, whom once I loved to hear preach, but he don't preach as he used to, or I do not hear with the same ears. Staying at the deacons one night, he was talking about the low state of religion, and said he did not mean to give himself any rest, nor give God any rest, nor the people in Peterboro any rest, (where he now lives,) till there was a reformation. Now they had a donation a few weeks since for this same minister, and had their gold and coral rings in their cakes, and made the Free church in which he preaches their gambling saloon. I saw the deacon's wife a few days after and asked her what she thought of such things at this day. 'O!' says she, 'they had a pleasant time.' In a small village not far from here there are three different churches. They have their military balls and their oyster parties, which the minister must attend. Say any thing to them about it, and the reply is, 'O, it's military, it's not wrong.' "Now to look over the world and see the conduct of the churches, does it not compare somewhat with what the Lord said to Ezekiel, [chap. xii, 27.] 'Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.' God says to Jeremiah, 'Among my people are found wicked men,' &c. I often think when realizing these things what the Lord says, 'Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord? shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?' 'A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so.' Is not this the case at the present day? "I love the Review and feel as though I could not live without it. I would willingly do with one meal a day, if by that means I could have anything to pay for it, rather than do without it. "I have seen most of the Advent publications. Through the benevolence of Bro. Holt I have the first volume of the Youth's Instructor. The Lessons on the Sanctuary enlightened my mind on that subject the most of any thing I ever read. O how good and sweet to me here alone, are all the Advent publications, and the sweet communications from the dear brethren and sisters. O how like cold water to a thirsty soul are they to my heart. How plain the time for commencing the Sabbath. "Now I will say to you and all the dear brethren and sisters, Go on in the work of the Lord, remembering if ye will live godly in Christ Jesus ye shall suffer persecution, and that it is through much tribulation that any shall enter the kingdom. Remember me at the throne of grace, and when you meet on the Sabbath remember the lone ones, and thank God that you can meet with those of like precious faith, and pray that the Lord would grant me grace and patience, that I may be willing to suffer all his righteous will concerning me, here below."