The Ten Pieces of Silver.
By S. Elmer
It is a good thing to look over the past and see the way the Lord has led us. It encourages and strengthens our faith, and inspires us with new zeal and energy. It serves to cheer the desponding, while they remember the same guardian care is over them, and that the same hand that led them then, leads them still. It has been remarked, when we have tried to defend the truth by referring to the word of God, that all denominations proved their belief by the Bible. Now we know the way that is marked out in the word of God is a straight and narrow way, and so plain that a child may not err therein; therefore to say that one belief is as likely to be right as the other, is making the Bible a book of confusion. But blessed be God, it is a light and a lamp to our feet. He that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth because the darkness hath blinded his eyes. We read, he that doeth the will of God shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or no; and we are told that this is the will of God that we keep his commandments. Says David, thy Law is righteousness. All will admit that we should be righteous. Most certainly, says one, but you need not keep the seventh day. But God's perfect law admits of no divisions, for we are assured by the prophet David that all his commandments are sure, and stand fast forever and ever. The light that has shone on our pathway since we have embraced the true Sabbath, and the amount of light many received when searching for the truth, bears quite a resemblance to the words of our Saviour. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it. And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. Luke xv, 8, 9. After the disappointment of 1844, amidst the darkness, it was discovered that one of the ten commands was not kept; and by the light of the lamp, (the word of God,) a diligent search was commenced; and by clearing away the dust and rubbish of ignorance and superstition, the precious piece, or command, was found; and so plain the command, it did seem to those who found, as if their friends would rejoice with them. O, how anxious they feel for others, and how earnestly do they try to convince them of the truth; but alas! many neglect the light from heaven. But those that embrace it, are assured that it is the truth, for the Word and Spirit both testify to it; and far and near, wherever it is received by the honest ones, a halo of light shines upon their pathway; for their eyes are opened, and like David they behold wondrous things out of the law. My brethren and sisters, as we have received the truth, let us walk in it; not only by observing the Sabbath, but by keeping all the commands of God and the faith of Jesus. If we acknowledge the Lord in all our ways he will still direct us, and our path will be like that of the just that shineth more and more even to the perfect day.