Pressing Onward Toward Mount Zion
By W. D. Sharpe
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I can truly say that I am encouraged to press my way onward and upward, towards mount Zion. We have the word of God to encourage us while we sojourn here in this world of sorrow, sickness, pain and death. I praise the Lord for what he has done for me, in showing me the light of his truth. It shone so bright that I could not resist it when it came. We are pointed down the stream of time to the last days. The Apostle says, Know this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2 Pet. iii, 3, 4. It seems that we are forewarned that we cannot mistake its meaning. O, my brethren and sisters, it is high time that we awake out of sleep. The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. iv, 17, 18. Should we not bestir ourselves while the day lasts, and gird on the whole armor and fight manfully the battles of the Lord? We are sure of victory if we have Jesus for our leader. If the Lord is on our side, who can be against us? I am one of the eight here that are trying to keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. Some of our number have fallen away since Bro. Cornell left. May we that yet remain heed the exhortation of the Apostle, Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Yours striving for the kingdom.
W. D. SHARPE. Green Spring, O., Oct. 11th, 1858.