THE REJECTION THREATENED TO THE LAODICEANS.
"So then because thou art lukewarm, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Rev. iii, 16. That the lukewarm state here brought to view has been, and perhaps in a great measure now is, the condition of the remnant people of God; and that the fate here pronounced against them is but a just portion for those who remain in this condition; and that no language could be found to express a more utter and abhorrent rejection of a professed servant by his Lord and master, are points upon which all will be pretty generally agreed. It is concerning the manner of this rejection that we here wish to offer a few thoughts. If the conclusions to which many have been led, who love the truth, and are daily searching for it, not only from an examination of the Scripture itself, but from observation in the living church, be correct, then have we great cause for humility and deep searching of heart before God. It may have been the general expectation that the time of decision in our cases, the period of the rejection of the lukewarm, the separation of the zealous from the indifferent, in short, the spueing out, would be accompanied with manifestations of divine power, and an agonizing consciousness on the part of the rejected of their true condition: indications which would leave no doubt of the fearful decision that had passed in the courts above. And there may be some who are dreamily settling down, and resting on, in the expectation that some divine manifestation will raise some beacon of alarm for them, ere their cases become particularly dangerous. The conclusion alluded to above, however, is far different from this. It is that the separation is to be a gradual work, not a sudden one; that it is to go on slowly and silently, the unfortunate victim of lukewarmness receding by almost imperceptible degrees from the church of God, till, at last he suddenly finds himself entirely without its pale. What follows from this conclusion? Chiefly this: that any departure in our feelings from that unity which should characterize the people of God, any waning away in our hearts of love to God or our neighbor, any decrease of faith, any abatement of our zeal, any relaxation of deeds or desires for the advancement of the good cause, are tokens of our downward tendency. We might look at the matter in a still closer light, and say that no increase on our part of these various emotions and efforts in behalf of truth, is a symptom equally alarming; for it is not necessary that those who fail of overcoming at last should positively retrograde in order to meet that calamity. Their standing still while the church moves on, their remaining on their dead level while the church rises, will produce a separation equally broad and distinct. They have but to remain where they are to find a state the end of which is, to be spued from the mouth of the faithful and true Witness. Fellow-travelers to Mt. Zion! laborers for eternal life! what are we doing to guard against this so fatal an issue, so total a blasting of all our hopes? Are we content to let our love grow cold, our faith decrease, our zeal abate, and our efforts diminish? Are we satisfied with any doubtful evidence of an acceptable standing before God? Or are we alarmed at any symptoms that point otherwise than upward to life and glory? These questions must all be answered, answered correctly, answered by deeds which speak louder than words; and thus they will be answered, by every victor in this great warfare. We have said that the conclusion here advanced, is partly the result of observation in the church. Scan the broad field and see if for it there is not abundant ground. Do we not everywhere see a portion of them manifesting signs of life, showing a disposition to come up to the high place of the church's privilege and duty, and exercising some of that zeal which the true Witness calls for, in turning unto him with all their hearts? while a portion are still resting on, not only not rising, but manifesting no desire to rise, indifferent, faithless, zealless, lifeless, a weight and hindrance to the church, but yet guilty of no outbreaking offenses, which might furnish the church with a sufficient pretext for withdrawing themselves from their fellowship and their influence. This can but be the incipient tokens of the final result. This line of distinction must grow more and more distinct, till the time comes when the true Israel of God, in more than a literal sense, will have no feeble ones in all their ranks. This work of separation should be no cause of discouragement to those who remain true to their calling. That some give up and go back does not disprove the validity of the truth we profess, nor the genuineness of the cause we love. That would indeed be a strange act that gathered good fish only. We may expect that in every draft the truth makes from the ranks of the enemy, the bad will be mingled with the good. If these will only separate themselves, they will simply save the church the trouble of a withdrawal. But we may be sure that the number of the redeemed will be made up. God has yet a hundred and forty-four thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. These will all in due time be brought to light, and exalted to the glorious privilege of sitting with their Saviour on his throne. Rev. iii, 21.