WE WILL DO THEE GOOD

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 23, 1858

WE WILL DO THEE GOOD.

“We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you. Come thou with us and we will do thee good, for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.” Num. x. 29. Such was the language of Moses to his father-in-law, while journeying to the promised land, the earthly Canaan. Just as appropriately, and with ten-fold more inducement may we hold forth to those around us, the same language, as we are completing the last stages of our journey to the Mt. Zion and the glorious Jerusalem of the heavenly Canaan. To draw a comparison between our situation and that of Moses and his brethren, would be almost needless. It would be but bringing out through the tardy medium of words, those ideas and comparisons which will suggest themselves with the quickness of thought to every mind, in their native force and beauty. Was he making his way from a land of darkness and thralldom? So are we. Was he buffeting the cares, perplexities and fatigues of a wearisome journey and an unfriendly wilderness? So are we. Who has not sung, and felt, too! that

“This world of cares is a wilderness state?”

Was his mind ever going forward, in pleasant anticipation, to the promised land and to a day of rest? So is ours; for the Lord will recompense rest to us in the day of his revelation. 2 Thess. i, 6, 7.

Was he journeying to a better country? So are we. There is this difference only: his country was an earthly one, but ours a heavenly; for we trust to have joined that long catalogue of patriarchs, prophets and apostles who confessed themselves but pilgrims and strangers upon the earth, and looked for a better country, even an heavenly. So great is the privilege which the favor of God bestows upon us, while granting, also, that they without us should not be made perfect. Heb. xi. 40.

Had the Lord said of that land which Moses sought, I will give it you? So has he said of ours; for “the meek shall inherit the earth” [made new]—the antitypical promised land of the true Israel of God. The saints shall take the kingdom under the whole heaven and possess it forever, even forever and ever; and that too, when the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, and the excellency of Carmel and Sharon spread thereon. Isa. xxxv. 2.

Could Moses say to those about him, Come with us, and we will do you good? With infinitely better reason can we say the same. He spoke only of the type; we can speak of the antitype: he only of the shadow; we of the substance.

“Come with us and we will do thee good.” What was the good which Moses proposed? It could be no higher in its nature than that which he himself was seeking; and that was earthly and temporal. What is the good that is now proposed? It is as high in its nature as that which we aim to reach; and that is heavenly and eternal.

Come then, we say to any who have not yet turned their steps into the way of life, Come with us and we will do thee good. Not that we of ourselves can bestow the good proposed: we can only join our voices with the invitation of the Spirit and the Bride, as they bid you come, and while pointing heavenward, endeavor also to lead the way. We are journeying to the land of which the Lord has said, I will give it you. The Lord has spoken good concerning Israel; and faithful is he who has promised, who also will perform. Would you share the good? Then join the Israel.

We are journeying to that good land. Be this your encouragement, brethren, amid the toils and hardships of the way. Remember that the Lord hath said, I will give it you. Can you think of this and be discouraged? Can you think of this and murmur or complain? Can you think of this, and yet lose heart, or turn again with longing eyes towards the flesh-pots of Egypt? We shall yet reach the reaping time, if no fainting by the way prevents us. We shall soon realize what it is to be counted Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise, unless we choose to be aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.