How Shall we Grow in Grace.
By Stephen N. Haskell
That God has set his hand the second time to gather the remnant of his people, there is no doubt; and while there is one here and another there, a little handful here and a little handful there, and each lone pilgrim or company of pilgrims feels something like Elijah anciently, when he exclaimed, "The children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, slain thy prophets, and I even I only am left, and they seek my life to take it away;" [1 Kings, xix, 10;] we need some way of communication by the which we can ascertain the fact, that there are many thousands that have not bowed the knee to Baal, nor do they pay any regard to his statutes or his laws. Hence the Review is just the paper that we need; and not only for this, but for the doctrinal points also, which it contains. Amid the perils of these last days, when every wind of doctrine, seemingly that the Devil can invent, is abroad to draw the minds of God's dear children from the present truth, we need some paper that will teach the simple, guide the erring, bring back the wandering and lead them on in the path of life by advocating plain Bible truth. And while the paper may be good, and come laden with rich truths, that alone is not sufficient to give the loud cry to the Third Angel's Message. That alone is not sufficient to prepare a people to stand in the battle of the great day. But if we would see the cause of God move forward, each and every one must stand in their lot and place. There must be an individual growth in grace. Says the apostle, "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. iii, 18. And in order for us to grow in grace we must have, 1. Secret Prayer. Says our Saviour, "But thou when thou prayest enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Mat. vi, 6. There is a duty here that is to be performed by every disciple of Christ; viz., to pray in secret. Then here is a blessed promise to which Christ has pledged his word; namely, that "thy Father shall reward thee openly." Now if we neglect this duty can we grow in grace? I answer we cannot. 2. "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God." Phil. iv, 6. "Pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you." Thess. v, 17, 18. Here too is a duty enjoined upon every saint. "Pray without ceasing." We must keep our minds calmly staid on heavenly and divine things. But says one, my mind is so accustomed to wander on the grovelling things of earth! it clings here; and how can I keep it on heavenly things? I answer (2.) "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." Prov. xvi, 3. If it be asked how shall I commit my works unto the Lord? I answer, "whether we eat or drink or whatsoever we do, do it all to the glory of God. I Cor. x, 31. Eye God's glory in every thing that you do. Keep your eye single to the glory of God, and your whole body will be full of light. Matt. vi, 22. 3. Another duty that devolves upon us is to "acknowledge God in all our ways," and if we do so we have the promise that "he will direct our paths." Prov. iii, 6. Now brethren, while we see how that God's word requires us to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, how can we live so far beneath our privilege! Shall we grow in grace while we thus live? By no means: we shall backslide step by step. When we see how God's word requires us to live, a doer of the word and not a hearer only, we find that we are like a man that beholdeth his natural face in a glass. James 1, 22-24. Dear brethren if I could portray before your minds the scenes that are just before us, and could cause you to fully realize the age in which we live, and the responsibility that rests upon us to walk before this wicked and adulterous generation as becometh those who profess to have the last message of mercy, and soon expecting that he that is holy will remain so, and he that is filthy will so remain, it seems to me that you would arouse to a greater degree of activity. Dear brethren, be not deceived, God is not mocked; for what a man soweth that shall he also reap: for he that soweth to the flesh (seeks to gratify the lusts of the flesh, worldly comfort,) shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Gal. vi, 7, 8. May the Lord help us to sow to the Spirit and so live that when he who is our life shall appear we may appear with him in glory. Come brethren let us take hold of the work anew. Let us take hold of it in earnest. Let us cast off all the unfruitful works of darkness, frequently visit our closets, and let all that we do tell that we are on the Lord's side. And above all things else let us have faith in God. Let us not dishonor God by not believing whatever he has said; for all his promises are yea and amen in Christ Jesus to the glory of God. That the church may rise continually, go on from step to step, from victory to victory until she stands out in all the sun-light of the gospel is the prayer of your brother in tribulation. STEPHEN N. HASKELL.
Worcester Co., Mass.