C O M M U N I C A T I O N S.
By Hiram Edson
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another." BRO. SMITH:—I have for some time believed that we were in the Laodicean state of the church; but not till of late have I realized the weight and importance of the testimony and counsel of the faithful and true Witness to this church. His unqualified testimony is, that because we are lukewarm he will spue us out of his mouth. After this he represents himself as standing without, knocking for admittance. This he would not do if he were within doors. It is written, [2 Cor. xiii, 5,] Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates. Compare with Gal. iv, 9–11, 19; Col. i, 27; Rom. viii, 10; John xv, 4–8. Now if Christ in us constitutes our hope of glory, [see Col. i, 27; 1 Tim. i,] and if Christ be not in us, then are we not without a well-grounded hope? If this be so, how true is the testimony of the faithful and true Witness, that we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I fear we do not yet fully realize our deep poverty, and wretched, miserable, blind and naked condition, as we should. I greatly fear that I do not. May the Lord impart the anointing eye-salve that we may see and realize our wretched condition. If we were in possession of the gold tried in the fire, the white raiment, &c., we should not be counselled to buy it. I rejoice, though tremblingly, that a space and opportunity for zealous repentance of our lukewarmness is afforded us. I am glad of the sweet counsel for us to buy of the faithful and true Witness the tried gold, white raiment and eye-salve, and thus exchange our poor and wretched condition for one which is far more desirable. O may we have ears to hear the voice of him that knocketh, and open the door unto him before it be too late, that he may come in to us and sup with us and we with him. The Lord help us to overcome that we may sit with him in his throne, is my prayer. Has the judgment upon the remnant truly come! How important then that we afflict our souls (be zealous and repent) or else our names will be blotted out of the book of life, and we be cut off from the house of Israel for ever. If the lukewarm would be zealous and repent they must repent now or never. If the unrenewed sinner would seek and obtain salvation he must obtain it now or never. The day of grace is closing; the mystery of God is almost finished. A little from this and a very great ransom can never redeem one soul. The unholy must then so remain.
Hiram Edson.
Martville, N. Y., March 21st, 1857.