"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Bro. Sperry.
Bro. Smith: Since coming West, the subject of the Third Angel's Message has been of deep interest to me. When I look at the disappointment of 1844, being led as we were to that time, and then left to the temptations and buffetings of the enemy, not knowing where we were, and feeling like asking as did ancient Israel, "Wherefore has the Lord led us out here to perish?" taunted with jeers by some, and pitied by others who thought it a rash move; feeling as did Israel while at the waters of Marah, the Lord sent us the Third Angel's Message, when we could best appreciate and recognize it, which lighted up our pathway and gave us a lively hope in the Advent faith.
I look at the rise of the message, the efforts put forth to get out the thrilling testimony, also the gathering of the few at the first conference, and contrast it all with the present means for getting out the truth, and feel an assurance that this is the Lord's work and not man's. While the inventions of this age facilitate the works and affairs of men, the work of God will not, or should not, lag behind. With interest and courage I see the work, as to its course, is in harmony with the prophecy, i. e., ascending from the East. I am thankful to see what it has done in the West.
When I see and hear those who after hearing this Message receive and rejoice in its glorious truths, exclaiming, "How long since you have seen these truths? and why has not this reached our ears before?" it makes me feel like pressing onward, knowing that there are still others who would rejoice could they hear. "And how can they hear without a preacher; and how can they preach except they be sent." But who is sufficient for these things? Who are willing to take their lives in their hands, and leaving all, go forth without the camp, bearing the reproach, trials, and conflicts, and rejoice in the privilege of suffering for Christ, that when his glory shall be revealed they may be glad with exceeding joy.
I feel like putting forth my feeble efforts for the spread of this truth. Although I have not seen all that I would have been glad to, yet I have been free and made to rejoice in trying to present the truth to hungry souls in the West.
"Let me but know where'er I roam
That I am doing Jesus' will,
And though I've neither friends nor home,
My heart shall glow with gladness still."
It is temptations, conflicts and trials that work experience which gives us a firm hope. We are apt to do as did Israel, when we come to trials, and ask, "Is the Lord among us?" and feel like turning back into Egypt. The Lord wants us to have a higher estimate of eternal life than to sell it for a little "mess of pottage," or to give it up, because of a few trials and conflicts. May the Lord give us the spirit that Paul had when he said, "Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us;" and added, "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. viii, 35-39.
Our eyes need anointing that we may better understand the work of God, and what it takes to purify us and make us fit subjects for the kingdom. Light shines the best when in a dark place; virtue is the most brilliant in the midst of afflictions. We cannot know our virtues unless tried by opposite means. We do not know what patience is, without tribulation; for the Word tells us that tribulation worketh patience. "Couldst thou discover benevolence if there were no sorrows to be soothed? What were power without an enemy? or mercy without an object? The characters of God were but idle, if all things around him were perfection. And virtues might slumber on like death, if they lacked the opportunities of evil."
May the Lord help us to understand our calling. There is no reward in suffering for our faults; but says the Apostle, When ye do well and suffer for it and take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. And when we suffer for Christ's sake happy are we, for hereunto were we called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps. 1 Pet. ii, 20, 21. Do not let these things pass hastily from the mind. Again Paul instructs us not to be moved from our faith by afflictions, "for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto, for we told you before that we should suffer tribulation." 1 Thess. iii, 3, 4. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution," for which we ought to rejoice that we are worthy to suffer for Christ's sake. But alas! how poorly qualified we are to glory in bearing reproach for Christ's sake. We will not suffer patiently even for our faults; and especially feel ourselves much hurt and murmur if we do not get applause when we do well, instead of patiently bearing buffeting for it, and counting reproaches greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. And instead of being kind to the unthankful and evil, and heaping coals of fire on our enemy's head, by feeding him, a flame of enmity and hatred is kindled in our own bosom, and we are overcome of evil, instead of overcoming evil with good, and we are led to see our poverty and destitution of the righteousness of Christ, or white raiment.
It is often repeated that "Here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus." It does not say, Here are they that acknowledge them, but keep them. We cannot know that we possess the spirit of them until tested by the presentation of objects, which are of an opposite character. We might think ourselves in possession of much of the love of Jesus, when we love every one because every one loves us; but let any one hate us and despitefully use us, then we shall know how much we have of the Faith of Jesus.
We have reached a time, definitely so, when it is not enough to say, Lord, Lord, only, but we must practice and live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. It is not enough to refrain from labor on the Sabbath, but it should be our delight to remember to keep it holy, and not speak our own words. It is not enough that we go to meeting to make resolves, or for a mere flight of feeling, but we should realize that these resolutions are vows made unto God, and not to man, to be carried into practice during the week; and we should seek for a deep feeling and preparation of heart to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth, and to do or suffer the will of God.
A man's profession is good for nothing, unless he reforms by practice. Our leaving the world or nominal church will make us no better, unless we reform. Alas! how much profession, but how little vital godliness practiced. We often see ourselves in the gospel glass, but go away and soon forget what manner of persons we are. When will we reform? I hope all will read carefully the piece in No. 25, headed, "Christian activity to be aroused," especially the first sentence, and see if we have reformed in these things with which they charge themselves guilty. If we were not guilty of some of these things we never should have merited the rebuke from the faithful and true Witness.
How long will we suffer ourselves to be overcharged with the cares of this world? How long will we suffer the love of the world to choke the word? How long before we learn that when cares press most, we should watch and pray most? But alas, we pray the less, and the Spirit is grieved and hurried away. If we contend that all we do is necessary and cannot be avoided, why is there not more supping with Jesus and he with us? Why do we have to confess when the hurry is over, that we have been on the back ground? A religion that is governed by such circumstances, I fear will not stand the coming storm. May God help us to reform before we are spued out of the mouth of God.
O that we could realize that the judgment is set, and for every idle word a book of remembrance is kept, and when we jest or joke, feel that the books are open. And while in the field or in the shop, or engaged in domestic affairs, buying or selling, know and realize that "thou God seest me." And when talking privately about a brother or sister, remember that God will bring every secret work into judgment, and that our religion is vain when we do not bridle our tongue; for when we speak evil of a brother we speak evil of the law, and judge the law. How? Because the law says that we must not do it, and when we do it, we put the law under our feet, and become its judge. The Lord grant that there may be less judges, and more doers; for the Apostle says, Thou art not a doer, but a judge. If the Bible be our creed, let us live by it, and walk more faithfully in the narrow road, the only one that leads to eternal life. And while the last act is being performed in the plan of salvation, let us make haste to search out our sins, put them away; and get on the whole armor which we shall need for the coming conflict before us. Let us bare our faces to the storm and not give the battle over until we reach the gate, when the crown and diadem will be given to those "who turn the battle to the gate."