Be Zealous and Reform by A. A. Marks

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 2, 1857

Be Zealous and Reform

By A. A. Marks

From Bro. Marks.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I feel like saying a few words to those of like precious faith by way of exhorting one another and so much the more as we see the day approaching. Let me ask, Do we not see the day approaching? I think there is no one of us that have had an eye upon the word of God and the signs of the times who have not already heard the distant mutterings of the coming storm. The judgment-hour cry has been given, and the announcement has followed it that Babylon was fallen; and now the third and last solemn message of mercy is sounding through our land, bringing with it the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus; and the faithful and true Witness has borne his testimony to us as to a luke-warm church; and the question is with us, shall we obey the message to be zealous and repent, or will God raise up others to take our crowns and we be spued out of his mouth?

Dear brethren and sisters, now is the time for us to be zealous and reform. Read the testimony in Rev. iii, 16. Are not our cases hanging in suspense, here in this day of atonement? I feel something of the importance of acting now. I fear if we do not move soon that it will be forever too late and the Lord will fill our places with some one else. "Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgments; seek righteousness, seek meekness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger."

I spent last Sabbath with the brethren and sisters in Hanover, and think they are trying to rise with the message. In our social meeting we enjoyed a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. O that we may all have strength to go forward in the truth and be saved with the Israel of God.

I learn from some of the church in Hanover that Elder A. N. Seymour has been there trying to overthrow the Sabbath; but David speaking of God's commandments, says, "All his commandments are sure; they stand fast forever and ever and are done in truth and uprightness." So we see that it will take more than the puny arm of man to get rid of the Sabbath or any portion of the law of God.

Elder S. left the impression at Hanover that he had been in the vicinity of Francisco, preaching, and that forty had given up the Sabbath, two of them ministers. Now what if forty should give up religion and two ministers with them deny their Bibles and go down to perdition? Will that alter the plan of salvation or destroy the christian's hope? No, no. We have life and death set before us. "Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. xxii, 14.

But what is the truth in relation to those who have given up the Sabbath, in the vicinity of Francisco? A few disorderly spirits (I think not more than fifteen

or twenty and they some two or three years ago; Elder S. left the impression at Hanover that it was a late thing) have left the commandments and the work of God, because the Third Angel's Message was too straight, and the way to life too narrow for them to walk in.

I am acquainted in that neighborhood and can say that those that have left the truth are not calculated to do honor to any cause. May the Lord save us from unreasonable and wicked men is my prayer. In hope of heaven when Jesus comes.

A. A. MARKS.

Jackson, Mich., June 19th 1857.