GOLD TRIED IN THE FIRE

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

GOLD TRIED IN THE FIRE.

PERHAPS to what has already appeared in the REVIEW on this subject, a few more thoughts may be added, if not to present anything new, at least to call attention again to an important subject that concerns us now.

What is meant by the gold of Rev. iii, 18, is a question which has often been asked. It is a proper one too, since we are under the counsel of a Witness that is faithful and true, to buy it of him; for he has borne witness against us that we are destitute of it; and when we are to seek for anything, we wish to have the object definitely before our mind for which we are to seek. What is the gold tried in the fire? It may help us to arrive at the definition of this, to consider the other things which we are counseled to buy. These are white raiment and eye-salve.

It must be evident to all that in the counsel of the true Witness are contained all the Christian graces which we are required to exercise; for he who heeds it will be found perfect; he will be enabled to see, he will be clothed, he will be rich towards God, he will overcome and be seated finally with Christ upon his throne.

Concerning what is meant by the eye-salve and white raiment, we presume all are agreed. The fine linen clean and white, (or white raiment,) says an inspired interpreter, is the righteousness of the saints. Rev. xix, 8. And we think the Apostle enlightens us on the eye-salve when he says, "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. . . . But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." 1 John ii, 20, 27.

In 2 Pet. i. we find an enumeration of graces which, if they abound in us, will make us that we shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, but if we do them an entrance shall be ministered unto us abundantly into his everlasting kingdom. They are, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. How many of these are included in righteousness, or right doing, which is the fine linen, or white raiment of the saints? Those evidently which relate more particularly to our outward actions, which are virtue, temperance, patience and godliness. What is included in the eye-salve? Knowledge; for it is by the anointing from on high that we see, perceive or know the things that pertain unto our everlasting peace. What remains to be included in the term gold? Faith and charity; more fully expressed by another Apostle as faith, hope and charity. "And now abideth faith, hope and charity;" and we think that the term gold may include "these three." 1 Cor. xiii.

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire." What think you, reader, of the counsel? We know of none who have not admitted that they were in the state described in the message to the church of the Laodiceans. Whatever view therefore we may take of the seven churches, we cannot avoid the application of this testimony to ourselves. If we say that they denote seven stages of the gospel church, we have without controversy reached the last, the Laodicean, and we are the ones expressly designated. If we say that the testimony applies to the character there described, in whatever age of the gospel it might be found, having admitted ourselves to be in that condition, we come no less beneath the threatening and counsel of that scripture. Even if you then are unsettled in the application of the theory let not that deter you from proceeding at once to zealous and diligent action.

We are counseled to buy gold of the faithful and true Witness. Again we ask you, reader, What think you of the counsel? You have doubtless many times thought much of the counsel of an earthly friend. Perhaps you have put yourself to much trouble to obtain it; and then how gladly you have received it, and how promptly acted upon it. But more than an earthly friend counsels you now. It is he who

—"above all others Well deserves the name of friend."

He who is the only friend that can give us unerring counsel—the only friend upon whose arm we can safely lean in the coming crisis. Nor does he wait for us to seek counsel of him, but while we were blind, and in a most wretched condition otherwise, he seeks us out, as it were, and tenders to us the counsel that we need. A time of trial is coming which nothing but the pure gold will be able to withstand: he sees that we lack it, and counsels us to obtain it immediately. The King is about to come in to examine the guests who have been summoned to the wedding: he sees that we are yet without those robes in which the guests must be clothed; and with a tender solicitude lest we be among the number who will be bound hand and foot, and be cast into outer darkness, he counsels us to buy of him the white raiment, the wedding garment. Matt. xxii, 11-14. A time is just before us in which we shall need to have the eyes of our understanding enlightened: he sees that we are yet blind and counsels us to buy of him eye-salve and anoint our eyes that we may see. His counsel is kind and timely. It is from one who knows what we need. Do you prize the counsel of such a counselor? Do you value the advice of such a friend? Will you heed it, and seek of him that merchandise in which there is true wisdom and lasting gain?

There is one thought here calculated to inspire us with confidence and courage. It is that he who counsels us to obtain these things is the one also from whom we are to obtain them. Now can we suppose that any person would counsel a friend to obtain certain things of him, and then refuse them to him? We cannot think that even a frail human would act thus; and will the compassionate Saviour whose ears are ever open to the penitent's petition; who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities knowing that we are but dust;—will he counsel his poor children to buy of him gold and white raiment, and then turn them empty away when they seek them earnestly of him? Impossible. Sooner can God deny himself. Come then with confidence, come boldly, to a throne of grace; and there behold inscribed upon that throne in golden characters, this cheering promise, the words of him who sits thereon, "Seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you."