p. 160 | SELECTIONS

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 25, 1856

SELECTIONS.

A note to Bro. Gripe.

MY DEAR BROTHER:—You are aware that we were acquainted with you when it was the world only, and not the church, that could call you brother. We saw that you had grasped the world as with fingers of steel, and we had seen so many efforts to cause a relaxing of the grasp, and the seizing of

something better, that we had about given you up. We thought the great griper, Satan, had you sure, and would never let you go.

We were rejoiced, therefore, brother, when we had to give up that idea, and were furnished with any evidence that Satan had loosened his gripe on you; and that you had relaxed yours on the world, and so had verily come into the kingdom of God.

But we are still troubled about you—suffer us to say it, Bro. Gripe. We see divers things that savor of a hold upon the world, not much relaxed from what it was when other beings beside ourselves could call you brother. The following instances have pressed themselves upon our attention, and we would press them on yours.

When brother Gripe makes a bargain, people say they seldom fail of being griped by him. He gets round them somehow. They are made to feel that fingers like pincers have had hold of them. They have seldom seen the like of him, for this sort of thing. So many instances of this kind have occurred, that scoffers are quite bold in exclaiming, "Aha! There goes brother Gripe!"

Again: When the gatherers of offerings to benevolent institutions fall in with said brother, they find it a very laborious work to relax his fingers so that anything whatever can slip through them. And when anything comes, it is only as the reluctant drop oozing out of the rock, rather than the cordial gushing forth of waters from a joyful overflowing fountain.

And again: Even the support of public worship has been shaved down to so small a sum given, that unholy observers have said, "Well named is brother Gripe!"

Now we could drive our coach some ways further over just such a road, but we forbear.

Now, brother, suffer our thoughts to take a direction as follows:

1. May we not respectfully suggest, whether there may not have been some mistake about your having escaped out of the great Griper's hands? He is very well satisfied with your present course. Your having professedly renounced him pleases him all the more; since, retaining still your grip upon the world, you can serve him all the more successfully. Your griping spirit seems strongly to intimate, that you harmonize still with your old master.

2. But, supposing you had fairly parted from his company, should there not be a loosening of your grasp upon the world? Those steel fingers of yours, brother, could they not be changed into some other material? Worldly grippers give a look of satisfaction at you, exclaiming, "Here is a christian griper that does as well as the best of us; who of us loves the world better than he? And, if all is well with him, then we have nothing to fear." How long shall they have it in their power to make such a use of your character?

3. Consider, too, your iron grasp upon the world, is a death pressure upon your spiritual joy and improvement. How can one get very near to the infinitely benevolent Saviour, with a heart so unlike his? His soul gushed out in the largest and sweetest tone of tenderness toward all men; and so far from grasping firmly his comforts and his life, he most generously let go them all, that he might make men eternally blessed. One must be like him in order to get very near to him. But by your iron grasp of the world, you are squeezing to death all the Christian joy and gladness of your soul. Near and sweet communion with Jesus is impossible. The joy of Christ's salvation would flow like a river into your soul, but the avenues are choked up by an intense love of the world.

Now, dear brother, if you will hearken to these admonitions, and become the warm and generous hearted Christian that you are capable of becoming, then will a dark stain be removed from the character of our Zion; joy and peace and usefulness will be yours; nobody but Satan will be sorry; and we will call you brother, but not brother Gripe, any more.—Pur. Rec.