An Aged Believer’s Testimony
By H. C. Crumb
"Beloved friends and fellow travelers to the bar of God: I stand before you a pilgrim on this earth. I have seen more than four score years. I feel that the mercy and goodness of God have followed me all my days. I rejoice in my soul for the blessed Comforter that Christ has sent into the world, even the Spirit of truth, which will lead into all truth. God's word is truth. I rejoice to-day that I have been led by this Spirit of truth to think on my ways, and turn my feet unto God's testimonies, and that I made haste and delayed not to keep his commandments. And I can say with the Psalmist, that all God's commandments are faithful, that all of them are truth, and that God has founded them forever. Great peace have they that love his law, and nothing shall offend them. I feel that this peace is mine, for his law do I love. 'The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple: the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes: the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honey comb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward.' 'Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.' Thus have I been led to put away the traditions of men for the truth of God; and I feel a joy in my soul for thus doing. I have looked forward to this time with joyful anticipation, when I could show to the world my anxiety and determination to follow my Lord and Master instead of the traditions of men. I would be buried with Christ by baptism. Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so would I be raised up from this liquid grave to walk in newness of life; and the life that I now would live, is by faith on the Son of God, and by every word that precedeth out of the mouth of God. I want that true and living faith which father Abraham had. I would, like him, look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. "I have great confidence in God, in his word, and in Jesus Christ; and I would take up with the admonition of Paul, and not cast away my confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. But we have need of patience, that after we have done the will of God we might receive the promise; and this promise is near at hand. The time has nearly come for the saints to possess the kingdom. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and he told us that if he went away, he would come again. I believe that he went away, for he told us that he was going, the apostles said that he went, and I do not see him in the world; hence, I believe that he has gone, and just so true will he come again. Signs speak him near. 'For yet a (very) little while, and he that shall come will come and will not tarry.' "And now let me say to you in the language of Paul, let every one of you that has named the name of Christ, be careful to depart from iniquity, which is sin, the transgression of God's law. And to you who have not named the name of Christ, be admonished by one who loves you, to flee to Christ who stands waiting, yea, anxious to receive you. He has died that you might live, and he has given the most lovely invitations for you to come and live. I would not be understood to say that there is no sorrow here, that the christian sheds no tears here; far otherwise than this. When I look around upon the human family, I can say with the Psalmist that I am grieved because they keep not thy word. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. It is time for thee Lord, to work, for they have made void thy law. "My prayer is that God would still deal bountifully with me, that I might keep his word, and that he wou'd open your eyes to behold wondrous things out of his law, even his holy Sabbath, that we may be prepared to meet at God's right hand."