Communication from Bro. Hart.
By J. Hart
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—I feel it my duty to speak to you through the Review at this time. I am now fully convinced that my course since I moved west has not been such a one as has been calculated to shed a good influence on the side of truth. That is, my course in the affairs of this life has gone to show that my affections were placed on the earth. And in view of the past, I feel to say to my brethren and sisters scattered abroad, that I sorrow for my course, and mean to heed the admonition to the Laodiceans, to be zealous and repent. This testimony has shown me my true condition in the sight of that God who knows my heart. Here light shines from his word like the sun at noon-day. It is a most solemn and awful threatening from the mouth of Jesus, that if we are not zealous he will spue us out of his mouth. Who will heed this warning? Who will give all for the pearl of great price? Who is it that will turn about, and give all for the kingdom? On this message hangs our eternal destiny. Christ is in earnest with his people. It is evident that the Lord is requiring great zeal at this point. Our coming so near the time when the Lord will make his appearing, and our stupidity and great lack of spirituality, demand of us to be awake, and here begin to act like men who wait for the Lord. Brethren and sisters, what shall I say? Can I say anything to arouse you from the stupidity that has been so long on us, and has lulled us into a perfect sleep? This sleep, I fear, many will never awake from, until it is for ever too late, the last note of warning being past, and then awake only to receive the wrath of God in the seven last plagues. My soul is drawn out after you while I write. This is truly a testing truth, and also a very humiliating truth. Poor, miserable, blind and naked, and knew it not. O what a testimony to the remnant! Who will buy gold tried in the fire? (It costs something.) It will cost us all we have. I ask again, Who will give all for the kingdom? Who will sacrifice all for the Lord and his truth? I do not feel it my duty here to go into the argument to prove that we are in the Laodicean state of the church. Examine what has been written on this subject by J. W. It seems to me as though we were near that point of time when the cases of all the living saints were coming before the Judge of all the earth. Are we in that state of affliction of soul that is required of us according to the type? I think not. That required the affliction of their souls. And if we are not found in that state of affliction, that is, humility, sobriety, self-sacrificing and mourning for our sins, God will spue us out of his mouth. The inquiry may arise, What shall I do? The testimony comes home to us from our Saviour, [Luke xii.] Be like men who wait for the coming of their Lord. No longer let your works deny your faith. Step out upon the truth with your whole soul. It will bear you. Brethren and sisters, lean upon the arm of God for strength. His arm is mighty, and he will never let those who trust in him fall. I feel like giving all for the truth, and mean also to be zealous in this matter. Shall we be among that class of servants who say in their heart, My Lord delays his coming, and our portion at last be found among the hypocrites? Remember that our lives are an index to our hearts. What has the world learned from this index the few past years? They have learned that we have an inheritance on this earth that we esteem dear to us. Yes, they have learned that we really love this inheritance. Has it not been so? The testimony our Saviour is, [Rev. iii.] that we are blind. What has blinded us? Paul testifies that the god of this world blinds men. O let us remember that this world has a thousand charms to draw our minds away from the truth, and that there is danger of our being drawn into the pit at last. Let us arise and lay aside the world. It is a garment of unrighteousness. Let us put on the garment of righteousness. The zeal that will be manifest by God's children, under this message, I think will bring the loud cry. Not the wars of the old world; not the troubles of this country, but a consistent life with our profession will meet with the approbation of God, and prepare his children to give the loud cry of the Third Message.