"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Sister Wheeler
BELOVED BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I have taken my pen to testify with others, that the arm of the Lord is not shortened, neither is his ear heavy to the cries of his children. I feel he is on the giving hand, making hard things easy, rough places smooth, and crooked places straight, and that he is bringing to light the hidden things of darkness, and causing his children to take up the stumbling-stones and prepare the way for the Third Angel's Message to go with a loud cry. I want to be among the number to rise with the remnant. I know the grace of God is sufficient, for he has promised strength according to our day. I see nothing discouraging, if we are obedient to the voice of the good Shepherd. Although his children may have to pass through sore conflicts with the enemy, yet the Lord will not suffer him to go beyond the length of his chain, and will with the temptation make a way for their escape.
Do we realize, brethren and sisters, the long suffering and tender mercy of God, and with what love he manifests himself towards us? What more could he have done to his vineyard than he has already done in giving his word, his Spirit, and his only begotten Son to suffer, the just for the unjust. And then in this last link of probationary time, while its last sands are falling, we hear the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, to buy of him gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eye-salve. Do we feel his keen, rebuke and chastening as we ought? Do we exercise that becoming zeal in reforming, that is our duty and privilege? And while he stands knocking without, and his locks are wet with the dews of many nights, I fear unless we arouse ourselves and open unto him immediately he will withdraw himself and be gone. We shall then seek him and cannot find him, and call him but he will give us no answer. We are being brought into a very straight place; for though the Lord is long suffering and of tender mercies, and has exercised long patience towards us, not willing that any should perish, yet his Spirit will not always strive, and how awful if we are left to perish with the guilty nations. I realize that God is in earnest with his people, and we ought to give heed to his voice speaking unto us through his prophet Joel, saying, "Turn ye, even to me, with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping; and with mourning, and rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God." His searching eye is upon us, he knows our works, and will not accept of our divided affections. He is a jealous God, and demands our whole heart with our entire being, all that we have, and are; and does he require too much? Nay, he is not a hard master. He has purchased us with a price far above rubies, even the precious blood of his dear Son.
May the Lord help us to realize the solemnity of the hour we are living in, and aid us to get on the white raiment, &c. R. B. WHEELER.