“Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.”
From Bro. Holden.
Bro. Smith: Through the goodness of God I am yet numbered with those of whom the prophet speaks when he says, The living, the living, he shall praise the, as I do this day. Isa. xxxix, 19. I am glad that with you I am permitted to live in the days of the proclamation of the second coming of Christ, in the time of the messages, when the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus are proclaimed in truth.
Yes, although we are living in the perilous times of the last days, spoken of by Paul in 2 Tim. iii 3, 1, the thought that we are living so near the coming of that very same Jesus, who was taken up into heaven over eighteen hundred years ago, and is to return for those for whom he went to prepare mansions, [John 14, 3,] is indeed cheering; that many who are now living, will live to behold him coming the second time when they shall be changed from mortal to immortality, is a sublime thought. Although the times are perilous, to all the faithful, God's grace will be sufficient. Yes we will hope and will try to be faithful so as to be found with those who will be ready to say Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.
While reading your remarks upon “through messengers” the thought arose, shall all who are permitted to read this, get through? Shall I go through? Shall we ever be seen with the Lamb and his blood washed company, through?
Having the aid of the two great lights, so to speak, “The commandments of God; and the faith of Jesus,” we can go through? Or we may be allowed to compare them to two mirrors between which we are standing: one reflecting the light of the other, showing what is behind us as well as before, the spots and stains upon the back as well as in front. May God grant that many may so look into the perfect law of liberty, being doers of the work, as to have liberty to pass in through the gates into the city, eat of the fruit of the tree of life, and live forever.