p. 52 | DWELLING ON DARKNESS by J. CLARKE.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 3, 1860

DWELLING ON DARKNESS.

By J. CLARKE.

SUPPOSE that Bro. A. is becoming glued down to the world, and is fast losing the savor of the truth; suppose B. is running after the gewgaws of the world, and C. is stupid and dead; you need not be constantly dwelling upon the matter. True, it is sad to think of; and it should fill our hearts with grief; but our duty is plain: to go lovingly and tenderly to them, and unburden our mind to them, in brotherly-kindness and affection, and with prayer and patience wait to see the effect. Then when duty is performed, it is useless to torment our own hearts about the matter.

Dismiss the subject now upon the mind.

Look up to God for light; with faith look up to him; look away from the thick darkness of earth. You cannot carry your brother to the celestial city. Having done your duty in exhorting and warning him, cast now your burden on the Lord. Do not constrain the brother. If he will not be won willingly, sweetly by the power of the truth, God does not want him in the ranks; he would only be a dead weight to the church. The church is not edified by constrained fellowship; God is not pleased by it, nor is he honored by the service of those who are half-hearted.

Do not dwell upon the darkness. Do not talk about these troubles, nor think of them much. Dispose of them in a sweet, brotherly, scriptural way; then drop them; and if the brother does not heed the warning, leave him with God; you have no time to dally with him; you cannot enter the celestial gates with a putrid corpse upon your shoulders. It may be all you can do to save yourself; do not take any responsibility which God does not require at your hands.

Time is precious. Dwell upon those things which tend to elevate the mind. Nourish that inner life of the soul. Meditate upon the reward of the righteous in heaven, the glorious tree of life, the river of life, the New Jerusalem, the gates of pearl, the walls of jasper, the streets of gold, the harps, the crowns of gold. Think of the beauteous, princely mansions of the eternal, the celestial city, and of its inhabitants, all holy, all disinterested, self-sacrificing, humble and obedient. Think of God, the source of all good, and of his Son Jesus Christ. Think of the glorious system of truths, which are like leaven, to purify and fit the sons of earth for that refined, and intelligent, and holy society of angels. Think much upon those mighty truths which are soon to test all, as they appear in their order in the judgment, as our Advocate closes up the work of the Sanctuary.

Dear brother, let us be assured that when we fully realize what a mighty work we have before us, in heeding the counsel of the true Witness, when we fully realize the inward corruptions of our own hearts, we shall feel that we have sufficient of labor before us to do, without carrying false or needless burdens. No, let us cast our burdens upon the Lord.

But there is darkness within. Our own sins, and weaknesses, and besetments, are enough to fill our minds with dismay, if we dwell upon them. If we do this, it will bring only discouragement and grief. Let us look away from unworthy self, to worthy Jesus, keep our eyes fixed upon him; he is worthy. This is our only hope. Only believe, trust, confide in him; this is the way to get strength to perform his will; for while we dwell upon darkness, his light is withdrawn.

But we have wants. Many of us are poor, and the anxious cares of life engross the attention; and the mind dwells upon this subject too intensely, too constantly. This too is darkness. Look away from this, too. Trust in the Lord and do good. Be diligent in business while fervent in spirit. Make all subservient to, and consistent with, the truths we profess. But do not dwell upon the darkness: it will sink the soul. It degrades and weakens the mental and moral powers, and fits the mind for Satan, and the world, and the flesh, to take the reins and lead the soul downward to perdition.

J. CLARKE.