Encouragement to Press On
By Isabel G. Meacham
Bro. Smith :—I have been thinking for some time of writing and letting the brethren and sisters who read the Review know how I have been encouraged and comforted by reading communications from them. Such letters are like genial showers to the dry and parched earth, “——pleasant as the morning dews
That fall on Zion's hill.”
At times we feel cast down and discouraged on account of our trials and the stiffneckedness of the people among whom we live. They profess to be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus; but they keep not his sayings. They think we have the truth on the Sabbath question, but that it will make no difference which day we keep sacred, if we only keep one seventh part of the time; but God will never accept of a counterfeit Sabbath. We must keep all his Commandments if we abide the day of his coming, and stand before the Son of man. I feel encouraged “to press on toward the mark for the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” believing that we are living in an evil time, when the enemy is on the alert, watching every opportunity to decoy and lead astray the weak and feeble ones of the flock. Pride and the fashions of this world seem to be the besetting sins of many who are seeking to enter into the kingdom. But, brethren and sisters, we must lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, if we expect to enter into life. Let us not drink into the spirit of the world, but let us be modest in our apparel, and our adorning be of the hidden man of the heart. O that we might have a spirit of close self-examination, so that we might see ourselves as we ought; so that when our Lord comes we may meet him with joy and not with grief. I still feel like trusting in him, for he is my Rock, my fortress, my strong tower, and my defense in the day of trouble. Yours in hope of meeting in the kingdom.
ISABEL G. MEACHAM.
Savanna, Ill.