Opening the Heart to the Saviour
By Elsy Hough
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: When Brn. Holt and Cornell came here they found us in a lukewarm state; but they came laden with many precious truths. It was cheering to the soul, and I can say their preaching was not in vain; for it has put new courage in my heart to travel on. I think there are many more that can say the same. My prayer is that we all may arise and come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and sup with him and he with me." O brethren and sisters, let us clear away the rubbish from the door of our hearts, and let the Saviour in; for he is knocking for the last time. O what a solemn thought. Since we have tried to open the door of our hearts we can truly say it is good for us to be at the house of prayer, it is good for us to wait on the Lord. It is my meat and drink to do my Master's will. Our Saviour says, Return unto me and I will return unto you, and heal all your backslidings. O what precious promises God has left for his children in these last days. Are they not worth living for? I think they are. I am willing for one to forsake all for my God; for when all our friends forsake us, God will protect us. It is nearly three years since my companion and myself commenced keeping the Lord's Sabbath, and we can truly say we are not sorry. I think it is the best of all the seven. As I read God's word it shows me that our Saviour's work is almost done, and the seven last plagues will be poured out on this ungodly world; and who shall be able to stand? Those that have clean hands and a pure heart. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. O may we have our work done and well done. May we have our lamps trimmed and burning, that when our Saviour comes we can look up and say, "This is our God, we have waited for him;" he has come to wipe away with his soft hand the last tear from our eyes, and take his exiles home. Do not let us be discouraged; for we are just in sight of the prize. Those that hold out faithful to the end will obtain it. Wake up brother, wake up sister, and let us put on the whole armor of God, for now is the time. Let us call on him while it is to-day for we have no promise of to-morrow. It is my prayer that I may be one of that number that will stand on Mt. Zion. "Farewell, farewell, to all below,
My Jesus calls and I must go;
I launch my boat upon the sea,
This land is not the land for me."
ELSY HOUGH.
Rochester, Mich., July 8th, 1857.