The Goodness and Mercy of God
By Harriet I. Camp
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: It is with a desire to glorify the Lord that I now write a few words to speak to you of the goodness and mercy of our kind heavenly Father to me. Especially for a few months past, have I been led at times to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I have felt that the Lord has been better to me than all my fears. I have had the blessed evidence that he cared for me. I do feel my hope, trust and confidence increased in him, and am determined to press forward, and try to gain the perfect victory. When contemplating what has been done to purchase salvation for us, and what a rich reward is held out before us, if we are faithful, I wonder that ever I should have an indifferent feeling. O, how much there is to induce us to become devoted Christians! to be ever alive in this holy cause, and ready for every good word and work. I can truly say, I love the life and power of the religion of Jesus. I often regret that my love is not ever fervent and unabatting towards the dearest object of our affections. O, how wonderful that Jesus could ever leave the glory he had with the Father, come down into this poor, dark world, be surrounded by sin and sinners, become a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief! And why all this? O, wondrous love! that we might come to God through him and be saved. Can any of us remain indifferent to our soul's salvation? Let us see to it that we make our calling and election sure while it is called to-day; knowing that the night soon cometh when no man can work. Are any becoming weary in well-doing? Bear with me while I entreat of you not to leave and wound the dear Saviour, and bring a reproach upon his precious cause. Those who are not willing to bear the daily cross, and be despised by the world, will in a little while wish to be with those whom the Lord shall exalt; and who are they? Those who have honored him by keeping all his commandments and the faith of Jesus. For one I choose rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. I love the Lord because he is good; his mercy endures forever. How blessed the hope set before the Christian! Language fails to express what the heart, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, feels at times. We have a soul-refreshing view of brighter scenes to come, when the saint who has suffered and toiled here will be called home to rest with him who has in this world been to him the one altogether lovely, and the chiefest among ten thousand. I do feel thankful for what I have through grace experienced of the goodness and mercy of the Lord. But I need, and I long for more. I earnestly desire to gain the complete victory over everything wrong. I feel that it is no small thing to be an every-day Christian. In no way can we be owned and approved of him who has said, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly," only by faithfully obeying this command of Jesus. How blessed the promise contained in this command! Truly we need the open reward day by day, that we may bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. How precious the privilege to come unto him who has been in this world, and who has been tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, and to feel the blessed assurance that he hears our cry. - "Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father's throne,
Make all my wants and wishes known."O, may the Lord help us, who profess the religion of Jesus, to adorn our profession with a well ordered life and a godly conversation. May we heed the word of the Lord which says, "But exhort one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." And finally may we hear the welcome applaudit, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
HARRIET I. CAMP.
Gaysville, Vt.