The Lord's Mercy | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 8, 1857

The Lord's Mercy.

The Lord is ever merciful to his people. This is manifest in all his dealings with the children of men. When the cry of Sodom had come up before the Lord, and he had determined to destroy the place, [Gen. xix,] he sent a warning of his purpose by angels to his servant Lot. And we read that even “ while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters.” The Lord not only made known to him the coming destruction, and warned him to flee from it lest he be consumed, but even while in face of this dreadful threatening, he lingered, the angels laid hold upon his hand to hasten him away; and the next sentence contains the secret of all this dealing: “the Lord being merciful unto him.”

Thus it is with us. We have been apprised through the light of revelation, that sudden destruction is coming upon the world. We have been warned to flee from it. We have been aware that for now a number of years, the last message of mercy to the world was going forth; and yet we have lingered. One thing after another has more or less engrossed our affections and diverted our minds. We have lingered till we have become heedless and lukewarm in the service of our Master. And now, as though he would lay hold upon us and hurry us out of this condition, he sends a last message to his people. We are notified of our situation; we are exhorted to be zealous and repent; we are counseled to buy gold and white raiment; and we are warned if we do not do this, that he will spue us out of his mouth. Why is all this? It is because he is merciful unto us. Then shall we longer linger? Let us arise and escape for our life, and tarry not in all the plain.