Press Together in Present Truth
By Nathan Fuller
Bro. Smith: The glorious light of present truth appears brighter and brighter as I see we are nearing the close. The time has fully come for God's people to press together, and be of one heart and mind, from east to west, and north to south. The enemy is enlisting soldiers, and drilling his army to prepare them for the battle of the great day. He has already enrolled the names of many who call themselves Christians. They have rebelled against the government of high heaven and are now ready to trample God's law under their feet. But there are thousands who have not yet taken their place unhesitatingly in the enemy's ranks. Many of them are honest, and want the truth. The Lord will give them a chance to hear, and be brought under the third angel's message. "The field is the world;" yea, and it is already ripe for the final harvest. Notwithstanding the enemy has of late been sending out so many recruiting officers, there are yet many who are ready to take a stand on the side of truth, when it comes from the heart and tongue, inspired with love to God and love to man. Those who carry the last message of mercy to a perishing world must be clothed in the raiment of love. A harsh spirit will drive from instead of gather into the truth. Dear brethren and sisters, let us show to the world by our works that we are gathering with Christ, instead of scattering abroad. It is easier to tear down the church than to build it up again. But some may say we are not called to preach, and how can we gather? Look around you. Are there not some poor saints that the Devil has been worrying till they are almost ready to give up their hope and sink down in despair? Go to them and whisper some kind and encouraging word to them. Throw around them the strong cords of love. Say to them, "Come with us and we will do thee good." Look again, my brother. Do you see those new and wide fields all white, ready for the harvest? And can you not spare a few dollars to send the truth into those new fields? The cause is one, east and west; and where means can do the most good, there it belongs. Again, we hear some complain of worldly cares. Perhaps your taxes are high. Well then, sell that twenty-five acres. You can do without it; and perhaps the Lord will soon call for the avails of it to feed hungry souls who are starving for the truth. May the Lord help us to show our faith by our works. "Faith without works is dead, being alone." The cause is not moving in Pennsylvania so fast as I could wish at present; but I hope the time will come when there will be hearts to obey, as well as ears to hear the truth. The brethren and sisters in this State are generally poor, but they are kind-hearted, and the most of them are ready to do their duty. May the Lord bless them, and make them of the meek of the earth, that they may be hid in the day of the Lord's fierce anger. The Lord has set his hand to this work, and victory will soon turn on the side of the remnant. "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Come, brethren and sisters, let us try this year to push the cause of truth forward, by our prayers, by our influence in showing our faith by our works, and let us remember when we say, Go, be thou warmed and fed, that we have something more to do. Faith and works go together. Some seem to be stupid and dull. Lord, save us from a lukewarm state, is my prayer. Brethren and sisters, wake up! "Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." "To them that look for him will he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." If we are asleep we cannot be said to be looking. "They that sleep, sleep in the night." "We are not of the night, nor of the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others." O how I want to participate in the visit to the Father's house. The saints will soon go. The place is almost prepared, and the Lord will soon come. Those who have a form of godliness may call it heresy: but Paul calls it the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord for such a hope! Hope of seeing the Father, the blessed Jesus, and the holy angels, and all the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, and all the martyrs who have laid down their lives for the cause of Christ, and being made immortal. It is enough. O I long to be there,
And the thought that 'tis near,
Makes me almost impatient
For Christ to appear.
Your brother in the Lord,
NATHAN FULLER.