An Appeal to the Impenitent.
By D. E. Elmer
[Bro. Smith:—I send you the following letter written to a friend. If you think it worthy of a place in the columns of the Review, you can publish it.
D. E. Elmer.] Dear Friend:—Feeling impressed with a sense of the time in which we live; the near approach of that day in which the "righteous Judge" shall descend "in flaming fire," attended with a retinue of "holy angels," to awake the sleeping saints, to change the righteous living, and to destroy "with the brightness of his coming" the ungodly, who will then vainly call for the rocks and mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; feeling impressed with a sense of the awful doom which awaits the finally impenitent, who while here despise proffered pardon, reject offered mercy, and regardless of the claims of a merciful Creator and a merciful Redeemer upon them for obedience, persist in a course of high-handed rebellion, of sin and folly; feeling impressed with the importance of a speedy preparation to meet a coming King, and that soon the doom of the ungodly will be fixed unalterably, I wish you to "suffer the word of exhortation." What of all earthly things is of sufficient importance to occupy our thoughts, to engage our attention? Honor? Wealth? Learning? These are all uncertain. "Honor holds a fluctuating seat." The honor of this world is opposed to God and his truth. How can ye believe which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only. It shuts out from the mind the glorious truths of divine revelation. The mind occupied in this way is unfit for the Divine teachings and guidance. "Riches profit not in the day of wrath." How vain to trust in riches. "He that trusteth in riches shall fall." And how uncertain! they "make themselves wings and fly away." All learning is but a mere maze of folly, if separated from Him who has said, "Learn of me;" if independent of him "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." The objects of time and sense are vain, transient, delusory, unsatisfying. How seldom do we experience fully our anticipations, how seldom do we realize fully anticipated happiness. 'Tis not in man to find in earth that which can fully satisfy the longings of the soul: he was created for a higher purpose, a nobler end. There is that which can satisfy the hungry soul; there is that which can impart joy and peace to the heart; there is that which can buoy up the spirits amid trials, afflictions and disappointments; there is that which can afford true happiness when friends forsake and earthly prospects fail: 'tis found in the religion of Jesus; 'tis found in pardoning grace. Jesus has paid the price of our redemption. He died that we might live. He spilt his precious blood for you and me. What condescension! What wondrous love! A being of immaculate purity and holiness leaves the realms of glory, the joys of paradise, "becomes of no reputation," takes upon himself "the form of a servant," dies an ignominious death, upon the cross, all, all for rebel man! "O for one note that rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break,
And all harmonious human tongues,
Their Saviour's praises speak!" Salvation is free for all. "Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters." The invitation is to all. O that any should despise the offer of pardon and finally perish; that any should spurn the calls of mercy and sink down to utter woe! Will you not heed the invitation and accept of offered mercy? Jesus now calls you! and must he call in vain? Shall that lovely voice meet with cold indifference? Will you requite with ingratitude what the Saviour has done for you? Will you persist in a course of disobedience and thus dishonor Him who died for you? Why longer live with "no hope and without God in the world?" Can you bear, for a few days of seeming pleasure, of vain glory here to lose the joy of the eternal world? to lose an interest in that eternal felicity which is promised to all the faithful; to be shut out from the realms of glory; to be cast off with the ungodly; and to suffer the pain of the second death? Our days here are but few at most. Life is but short. And what are the pleasures of this life compared to endless joys: for all herein is vanity. "Vain are all terrestrial pleasures;
Mixed with dross the purest gold;
Seek we then for heavenly treasures,—
Treasures never waxing old." The treasures of heaven are not subject to change. Time but adds to their glory. The joys of that heavenly world are ever new. There happiness is real. There, "Sickness and sorrow, pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more." O who would not desire a home in heaven? Who would not willingly forego the honors and pleasures of this vain and inconstant world, for a home in that better land. From the "sure word of prophecy whereunto we do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn;" from the past and present fulfillment of events therein predicted; from the present state of the religious, moral, and political world, exactly corresponding with their sad condition as represented in that sure word, just prior to the Second Advent, we are assured that that fearful day of wrath, that "day of darkness and of gloominess," that "day of clouds and of thick darkness," when "the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth," when the Lord shall pour out his indignation "upon the ungodly; when he shall execute wrath upon the rebellious," is nigh at hand. What means this general awakening of the nations? this spirit of war which is now so prevalent throughout the world? the waking up of "the mighty men," the vast preparation for "war," the gathering of the "nations," are not these precursors of that day? "Solemn voices now are calling,
Ask you what these voices are?
Raging winds and waves appalling,—
All presage the final war." While the nations of the Old world have been in a state of commotion, while they have been engaged in bloody contests, our nation has seemed to partake of the same spirit. The elements of war have long been at work, and now seem destined like the pent-up elements of the fiery volcanoe soon to burst forth with sudden and irresistible fury. Each nation seems to be preparing to act its part in the last great conflict. "The Lord hath a controversy with the nations; he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword saith the Lord." Jer. xxv, 31. "My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." Zeph. iii, 8. "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come." Rev. xi, 18. Who can fail to see in the present movement among the nations the fulfillment of prophecy?