Laodicean Reform and Spiritual Renewal
By Alonzo Abbey
BRO. SMITH: While reading the cheering epistles, and other communications in the Review, I can say, that I feel stirred within to try to make greater efforts for eternal life than I ever have. It is true, that the message to the Laodicean church found us in a lukewarm state ready to be cast out of the mouth of the Lord. We have been trying for a time past to take heed to the counsel of the faithful and true Witness and have been trying to buy gold, white raiment, and have our eyes anointed with eye-salve that we may see. We have felt the rebuke, and received the chastisement of the Lord, and we are trying to profit by them. The truth that we were wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind and naked, and knew it not, should awaken us all to a sense of our situation before the Lord, and stir us to new action in his cause. Truly our condition was an alarming one, one that should alarm every one who sees it, and we believe all who are not entirely overcome with the spirit of the world; all who are not so hardened that truth will make no impression upon them, I say we believe they will awake, be zealous and repent. The church here seem to heed the counsel to the Laodicean church and appear to be zealous to reform, and strive to prepare to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. How necessary it is that we have on the whole armor now, and it seems to me sometimes that it is with us, as it is with an army in time of war. When they are expecting an attack from the enemy, they have orders to sleep on their arms, or with their armor on. And so it is with us, we should sleep with our armor on, expecting an attack from the enemy. If we put off our armor the enemy will be sure to attack us, and how unprepared for fight should we be without our armor, (naked,) the state we were found in but a short time since. I feel for one to strive to enter in at the straight gate, for I am satisfied that many will seek and will not be able to enter in because of the straightness of the way. Yours hoping for eternal life at the appearing of Christ.
ALONZO ABBEY North Brookfield, Jan. 1857.