Buying Gold Tried in the Fire
By S. C. Courter
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—It is with trembling that I take my pen in hand to address a few lines to the people of God. We have felt deeply to mourn over our almost hopeless condition, when we found ourselves poor and wretched, and miserable and blind and naked. O what a condition for a people looking for the Lord! I felt at times on the borders of despair, on account of my transgressions; it seemed to me as though all my sins stared me in the face. I had professed to be a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus most of my life, with the good instruction of a dear father that I loved. This only enhanced my misery, to think of the privileges I had enjoyed above many. Yet how far below in holiness: but I feel to praise the Lord for his unspeakable love to such a sinful worm as I, that he in infinite love and compassion should send me an invitation to buy gold tried in the fire, white raiment and eye-salve. My response is, "Lo glad I come, and thou blest Lamb
Wilt take me to thee as I am;
Nothing but sin I thee can give,
Nothing but love would I receive." We feel that we are willing to give all for the kingdom. We want the gold tried in the fire, which we think must be the faith which works by love, [Gal. v, 6,] and purifies the heart. Acts xv, 9. See also 1 Pet. i, 7; James i, 3, 6; v, 15; Heb. ix; x, 38. Dear brethren and sisters, shall we not be willing to have our faith tried as gold, if we can be made fit subjects for immortality? We believe Jesus is soon coming; likewise the day which is to try men's souls. O then let us be faithful. Let us awake to our condition before we are cast out as unprofitable servants. I feel to confess my unfaithfulness, but I mean by assisting grace to arise and let my light shine. To live for him who died for me. Your unworthy sister. S. C. COURTER.
Windsor, Eaton Co., Mich., April 20th, 1857.