Obedience in the Divine Life
By D. Wilcox
BRO. SMITH: I know by happy experience that if we would make any advancement in the divine life, we must obey God in all things. I never realized the straitness of the way, and what a jealous God we have to deal with, as I did this morning while reading some of the travels of the children of Israel. When they reached mount Sinai, near the land of Canaan, before they could go up and subdue their enemies they had to wait there until the Commandments were given, the tabernacle erected, and they all marshalled in perfect order. Without this they could not go up and possess the goodly land, and subdue their enemies. If God was so particular then to have all things just right, how much more so now when we are about to enter the heavenly Canaan, of which that was merely a type. I believe that God has a strait testimony for his people, and I mean by grace assisting, that it shall not be too strait for me. We must get in that place where we will not even count our lives dear unto us. I think I never felt the importance of moving just right more than I do at present. The cry of my heart is for wisdom from above. Your sister striving to overcome.
D. WILCOX. New York, Dec. 10th, 1857.