SABBATH--KEEPERS' CHILDREN.
By James White
We had not room enough in last week's REVIEW to say all we wished to say under this head. What we have written will apply, a portion to quite small children, a portion to youths from twelve to sixteen years of age, and not a small portion to young men and young women. What we have said we expect will offend some, be treated with indifference by others, while the devoted portion of the readers of the REVIEW will feel the force of the facts stated. We have just returned, fifty miles, from holding a two-days meeting at Monterey, and with weary limbs and aching head take pen in hand to continue the subject. What we have witnessed within a few days of the evident lack of pure religion among young Sabbath-keepers in particular (though they are not the only ones that lack) has called the condition of the young vividly up, yet we have time and space for only a few thoughts now. We would say, however, in regard to the meeting in Monterey, that the humble confessions, and the streaming eyes of many, give hope of a better state of things among the young in Allegan county. But we look abroad over the desolations of the remnant church of Jesus Christ with anguish of spirit while we see that there must be a speedy reform134with a very large portion of the younger members, or they will be taken away as withered branches, or in other words, they will be spued out of the Lord's mouth. "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." John xv, 2. Again, "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered." Verse 6. Where are the young men and women among us who really bear fruit to the glory of God? There are some who are growing in grace, and in knowledge of the truth, but this number is very small. Some show forth good fruit of the religion they profess. They let their light so shine that others see their good works. These are the most powerful preachers of the truth, and are almost sure to lead others to the truth, and the foot of the cross, where they may glorify our Father in heaven by walking in his commandments. The Spirit of Christ, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit, are seen in their daily acts, and their conversation. The fear of God is before their eyes. They are conscientious. Love, pure love abides in their hearts, and the fruit of the Spirit is easily, without affectation, manifested in all the walks of life. Such have lost their love for this world, with its vain follies and pleasures. And more, they cannot be enticed by them. The spirit, and the vain practices of young friends are oppressive to the young Christian. "For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light; (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth,) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Eph. v, 8-11. Be not deceived, young friends. If you are Christians, you are Christ-like. If you are in Christ, you bear fruit to his glory. If you cease to be like Christ, and cease to bear fruit, you will be cut off as a withered branch. Every branch in Christ bears fruit. Many of you that read this, know that you are not as devoted as you once were. You know that you love the world more, and Christ and his cause less. Then know this also, young friend, that you are withering and being severed from the Vine. But it is your privilege to bear fruit to the glory of God. Says Christ, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." In doing this, you glorify God, follow Christ, have a good influence on those around you, and make sure your own salvation. O, be entreated to abide fully in the vine, and bear much fruit. How excellent is this fruit! "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Gal. v, 22-25. Says the Apostle, "Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom. viii, 9. There need be no mistake here. Those who have the Spirit will manifest its fruit; those who have not the Spirit are not Christ's. Where the love of the world is, there the love of the Father is not. Where pride, vanity, lightness, vain and foolish talking are, Christ is not. Where envy, malice, back-biting, exaggeration, high-colored story-telling and lying are, Christ will not tarry for a moment. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked." O, ye half-hearted, young professors, awake to your condition! Perhaps you do not live half for Christ and heaven. You may be one in whom Satan rules among the passions of the carnal mind, without hardly feeling the reproving Spirit. O, wretched indeed is your condition. We entreat you to either rend your hard, unfeeling heart, or else strip off that garb of Sabbath religion you now wear. "Who will be on the Lord's side?" May this inquiry echo, and re-echo throughout the remnant. May it thrill through the soul of the worldly, vain, careless young professor, and lead him to be wholly the Lord's. We solemnly believe that a testimony is ripening that will shake the present lukewarm church mightily. O, spare thy people, Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach. What are young men and young women among us doing to advance the cause of truth? Most of them are doing nothing. They are living wholly for themselves. Most of them are making provision for this life as though Christ was never coming. Many of them do not think of the wants of the pilgrim servant of God, or the wants of his wife and children he leaves at home, perhaps to suffer for want of the comforts of life. Home, and the society of his family are as dear to him as to other Christians; but these he leaves to save souls. To you, young friend, he preached the word, and for you he earnestly prayed, perhaps with aching lungs, that God would for Christ's sake pardon your sins. He led you down into the water, and there baptized you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And are you heedless of his temporal wants? Ungrateful, unfaithful soul! If you have not like Peter denied your Lord, you have abused and slighted him in the person of his chosen servant. Every want he suffers is written against you in heaven. Every neglect he feels, every bitter tear he sheds, as he sees no fruit in you, will be marked against you.