INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
By A. S. Hutchins
In the great and important work of bearing the last Message of mercy to this unbelieving and sinful generation, nothing can be more necessary than that each member of the true Church should fully realize his individual responsibility. We should ever bear in mind that all are to be laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, who have received the light of the present truth. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." We are under no less obligation to heed this injunction than were those who listened to the words as they fell from the lips of the Saviour. Said Christ, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." Dear brethren and sisters, if you have received this solemn Message in the love of it, your heart has been made to rejoice beyond expression often. The day when I decided to leave a fallen church, and have a stand with Commandment-keepers, (though friends have since forsaken, and enemies persecuted,) lives in sweet remembrance in my heart. O, praise God for truth! Bible truth. But have we at all times done our duty to each other? to our friends and our enemies? I fear not. That we as a Church have been lukewarm, and that the true light is shining at present upon the Laodicean state of the church, I doubt not. Now is the time to "buy gold tried in the fire, and white raiment," and to anoint our eyes with eye-salve. O may our efforts in this work be proportionate to the glorious object before us. The Lord hasten the time when a great and happy change shall take place among the remnant, is my humble prayer—when the truth shall reach every one hungering for the word of God. That humility, faithfulness and the spirit of sacrifice, which once characterized us, have in a great measure departed from our hearts, and that pride, with the love of the world, have taken their place, we cannot deny. But I am grateful to-day, for the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." It will be but a short time before Christ will receive his throne. Let it be our firm purpose, our chief and constant aim, to secure a seat with him there. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." "I long for that land whose blest promise alone
Is changeless, and sure as eternity's throne." It was far from my expectation when I embraced the truth of the immediate coming of the Just One, and receive the light upon the Commandments of God, that any one who had seen or should see and receive the light upon these subjects, would ever "draw back," and become scoffers with others, but in this I have been sorely disappointed. Some have admitted the claims of the fourth commandment to be binding upon us, and for a season have observed the Bible Sabbath. But when other truths of the Bible have been brought before their mind, they have manifested an unwillingness to receive them, and in actions have said, "I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," and have soon turned back. Others have strongly opposed the faithful, devoted and self-sacrificing servants of God, while they themselves have professed to keep the Commandments of God; but their folly has been and still is being manifest. But notwithstanding all this the people of God are coming into the "unity of the faith." David, looking forward to this point of time, says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Ps. cxxxiii, 1. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Eph. iv, 11-13. But in view of the perils which surround us, we have great need of constant watchfulness. Repeated admonitions are given in the sacred Word, to watch. "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." We need to watch not only for our own advancement and growth in the cause of truth, but we should exercise a constant and Christian watch-care for each other. All are to be interested in this work. Here is individual responsibility, whether we have five talents, two, or one; for if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 2 Cor. viii, 12. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Gal. vi, 1. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine." 2 Tim. iv, 2. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James v, 19, 20. "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." 1 Thess. v, 14.