CHOOSE YE THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE.
By E. Macomber
How necessary that we make a wise choice. "What man is he that feareth the Lord, him shall be teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease, and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant." The promises are to such as choose the Lord for their guide, protector and Saviour. In the case of Abel, who made choice of the firstlings of his flocks and of the fat thereof, we read that the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offerings; but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect; but the Lord said unto him, If thou doest well shalt thou not be accepted? Cain had the opportunity to make the wise choice as you and I have to-day, dear reader; but if we do not, it must be with us as the Lord told Cain, "If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." It may be with you as it was with Joseph who was sold by his brethren, and endured many severe trials; but he chose the Lord as his protector, and he in due time was wonderfully blessed. There are others who have chosen God to lead them, and then have forsaken him. We read of the children of Israel choosing the Lord, and of the Lord's presence with them, by the hand of Moses, he choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward, fearing not the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible; he with the children of Israel being delivered from Pharaoh. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the Lord. But we find them forsaking the Lord after he had so wonderfully blessed them, as we read in Ex. xxxii, 1. "And when the people saw Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron and said unto him, Up, make us gods which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him." Are there not those who, like the children of Israel, have chosen the Lord and run well for a season, but have said finally Let us make unto ourselves gods. In this we perceive that they are leaving the Lord. As the children of Israel were inclined not to care what became of Moses, so is it with those that have forsaken to heed the commands of God. The command to Israel was, Thou shalt have no other gods before me; and again, The Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven, ye shalt not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. But how soon they disobeyed. God has spoken from heaven unto us by his Son saying, Keep my commandments as I have kept my Father's commandments. Our blessed Saviour kept his Father's commandments—all of them—without any95exception, as we find in John xv, 10: If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 1 John iii, 22. And whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. I sometimes hear those who profess to be looking for the Lord to come soon, say, Why do you urge the keeping of the commandments? Because, I reply, I find in the word of the Lord that the Saviour urged the keeping of them. He said unto the young man, Matt. xix, 17, Why callest thou me good; there is none good but one, that is God; but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Again in 1 John v, 2: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. I feel as the Psalmist expresses himself, Psalms cxix, 126: It is time for thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void thy law. May the Lord move on the hearts of such as profess to be the children of the Most High God to humbly submit themselves to his holy law, have the patience of the saints, and keep the faith of Jesus. Then, when we behold the white cloud and one sitting thereon like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, we can with confidence behold him and claim him as our God; for he comes to save us. We have waited for him, we may very very soon expect him, for surely all these things are being fulfilled in a very short space of time. We see the political horizon gathering blackness, and soon the crashing of nations will be heard, the great battle of Armageddon will be fought, when those who refuse to make the choice of eternal life must forever perish. Brother pilgrim, struggle on a little longer, a few more risings and settings of the sun, and we shall sing the song of Moses and the Lamb in the beloved city of God, no more to suffer in the body, but all will be peace for evermore, Amen. Yours on the watch, waiting for the coming One, New Shoreham, R. I., July 13, 1860.