WATCHFULNESS AND PRAYER.
By Frederick Wheeler
THESE duties are very closely connected with each other, and often urged upon us in the word of God. Especially are they urged by our Lord and his apostles, in view of the dangers that would surround the church in the last days. Says our Lord, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of man." Luke xxi, 36. Peter also urges the same. "But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer." 1 Pet. iv, 7. These duties are so closely connected that he who neglects the one will soon cease to perform the other; and without the performance of these duties we make no advancement in the divine life, or work of preparation for the coming of Christ. It is through prayer we obtain strength to watch. Through watchfulness we may keep ourselves in a praying frame of mind, and thus be enabled to come before God with confidence, and ask for the things we need. Our Lord well understood all the dangers that would surround his church in the last days. Hence the injunction to watch and pray. But it is to be feared that these duties are too much neglected, even among those who profess faith in the Third Angel's Message. Our Saviour continued all night in prayer to God, and we should be instant in prayer. Our closets should be often visited, there to enjoy communion with God; and morning and evening should witness our fervent devotion with our families at the altar of prayer. And the professed believer in present truth who goes to the secular duties of the day without having first sought God's blessing and protection for himself and family, not only gives to them a sad example of neglect of duty, but goes out182without any claim to God's protection from the power of the enemy or the influence of the world. He is unprepared to watch and resist the temptations of the enemy, or the unhallowed influence of the world that surrounds him. My brethren, watch unto prayer. How much need we have to watch and guard against the spirit of the present time. Love of the world, pride, an eager following of the fashions of the day, and vain, light conversation are among the soul-destroying sins of the present age. I would it could be said that Sabbath-keepers were entirely free from these sins. How carefully should we watch lest some of these sins find a place in our hearts. Those who have much of earthly goods are not the only ones that are in danger of loving the world. While they have need to watch and pray much for grace and wisdom to enable them to dispose of, and use their means to advance the cause of God and be prepared to render up the account of their stewardship with joy, so also those that have little, need to be careful lest that little take their affections and become a snare to them. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John ii, 15. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Col. iii, 2. Instead of seeking to have pride destroyed from the heart, the great mass of professing Christians (judging from their appearance) seek to cherish the principle by the wearing of gold and needless articles of dress intended to adorn the person, to please the eye, and foster pride and strengthen sin in the heart. But those looking for Jesus soon to come must watch against, and pray for grace to overcome, these things. Let the heart be searched to the bottom. Pray for the Spirit of God to search out and discover every root of pride. And instead of strengthening pride by indulgence in these things that are forbidden, let it rather be crucified, and our adorning be that of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Pride of opinion, love of approbation, self exaltation, and spiritual pride, are sins that fill the world around us, and will ensnare our feet unless we watch and pray. The Spirit of Christ leads to humility; and those who possess it seek in honor to prefer one another, and in lowliness of heart each to esteem others better than themselves. Rom. xii, 10; Phil. ii, 3. We should watch against indulging in vain conversation. Saith the Apostle, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." 2 Pet. iii, 11. Light and vain conversation grieves the Spirit of God. "In a multitude of words there wanteth not sin." But to him that ordereth his conversation aright God will show his salvation. In our intercourse with the world, our words should be few and well chosen. Says Jesus, "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matt. xii, 37. Our conversation therefore is a very sure index of the state of the heart. "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." If the fountain be holy, impure and vain words will not come forth from thence. If the love of Christ has possession of the heart, and the affections are on heavenly and divine things, our conversation will be in heaven also. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked." Watch well thy words. Watch to know the condition of thine own heart, and pray for the sanctifying influence of the Spirit and truth of God to sanctify and preserve you blameless unto his heavenly kingdom. Watch and pray for opportunities to do good and get good. Seek through these means to understand, and participate in the work of God through which he is now preparing a people for translation at the revelation of his Son. How great the inducements before us to lay up a treasure in heaven. An inheritance in the earth made new is proffered for our acceptance. Instead of those vain adornings that foster pride, behold a robe of righteousness and a crown of glory that fadeth not away! And those who learn to be holy in conversation here, will soon join in the song of the redeemed, and hold converse with angels in the paradise of God. Christ is soon coming! Believe his word! Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and stand before the Son of man. F. WHEELER.
Centerport, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept. 17th, 1857.