Questions About Christian Association
By M. M. Osgood
Brethren and Sisters Scattered Abroad: To you I send greeting—May he who is able to keep you from falling and to set you in the presence of his glory faultless, be the first object of your love, your chief joy and happy hope. I feel that there are sure trials awaiting you, and me too, if I walk blamelessly before God the Father. Satan is not only working with power by signs, intent on deceiving even the elect, but he seems to be working in every conceivable form. All around I hear the rumbling of his lion roar, and see intimations of the presence of his forked tongue. Verily as a prince he reigns in the hearts of the children of men. Often does the question arise, How much, and when will it answer to mingle with those who do not follow the Lord Jesus except in name, but seem to prefer the service of the “prince of this world?” There seems no prospect of benefiting any save a very few, and if we cannot benefit them I fear they will injure us; for so much are we the creatures of influence, moulded and fashioned in a great measure by those in whose society we principally mingle. Now what shall we who are separated from all or nearly all of like precious faith and holy practice do? How can we best glorify God? Shall we spend the greater portion of our time at home? or shall we go among careless professors and professed worldlings, and spend our time in striving to lead them from sin and error into truth? These are questions which greatly perplex me now. Will some of greater experience and wisdom and knowledge in the ways and will of God express their convictions of duty through the Review on this point? There is no question with me in reference to making or receiving complimentary calls, or of spending an hour occasionally in vain and profitless chit-chat. Nay, nay, there is no time for that. We have enough to do to set our own house in order and render our feeble assistance to those who feel the importance of doing the same, or those who may be made to feel the importance through well directed effort. The day of the Lord is evidently hastening on. The long dreaded war has begun; perplexity and distress of nations follow in its rear. The sea and waves roar mightily as I am often persuaded by occular demonstration; and when the powers of heaven are shaken and men's hearts fail them for fear of those things coming on the earth, we have but to look again to see the Son of man coming. O that God's children might be prepared to resist every influence of Satan, and please the Father in all things! I presume that many of the saints are to day enjoying a rich feast. Yesterday (the Sabbath) I felt a most ardent desire to make one of the number assembled at B. C. for conference and prayer. May God enable those who do assemble to transact all their business in his fear and love and may they bear with them from that place to their homes a holy sanctifying influence, live more separated from the world and be ripening fast for the kingdom. O that great grace might rest upon the conductors of the Review and kindred publications, causing them to grow strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, do valiantly. Your sister desiring a better country that is a heavenly.
M. M. Osgood.
Bronte, C. W. June 5th 1859.