SOME seem to think that the great benefit to be derived from religion is the comfort it imparts; and they cannot abide the reproofs that the word administers. "Go ye up and prosper" [2 Chron. xviii, 11], said the false prophets to Jehoshaphat, but he was not content until the prophet of the Lord was called, viz., Micaiah the son of Imla, who could not be warped by the false prophets, who strove to have him give a comforting message, and thus agree with them; but the noble prophet answers their impudent instruction by stating that, "what my God saith, that will I speak." Verse 13. At present there are many who wonder why we who believe in the same God they believe in, cannot unite with them, and comfort them in their trials and temptations.
There is old Mr. H. and his wife, much respected by all for their devoted attachment to religion and the principles of Christianity, for a long life, and now old age finds them where the third message sounds in their ears. They like our papers; they are food for them, "as good as a sermon," says Mrs. H.; yet they cannot consider it important to put in practice all the law of God, still they wish us to walk with and sustain them, now as formerly, with them to worship God, and together with them travel the narrow way. To such we must say, that it is painful to us to tear ourselves from your company. We would love to pour the words of consolation into your ears, and to say to you, "Go up and prosper;" but with Micaiah the son of Imla, we must speak what God the Lord saith.
God is no respecter of persons. The child and the man of gray hairs are on the same platform as respects moral obligation; and no exceptions are made in favor of any, in the word of God; all must bow to its unyielding mandates.
The Bible is not all comfort. Why? Because man is a transgressor of the law; therefore he must have instruction and reproof. Reproof! how harsh that word sounds. Comfort! comfort! that is what most want now. Well then, obey, obey! then will you have comfort. There is a legitimate road to happiness; and if you desire comfort, then obey the word of the Lord. Then will you be comforted, as one whom his mother comforted.
Oh yes, there is a time coming when the command will be proclaimed, "Comfort ye my people" [see Isa. xl, 1, 2]; but when will it be? When her warfare is accomplished. Wo to him who comforts the transgressor; but when Zion's warfare is over, then will she be comforted. Thus, aged friends, may you be comforted, but only on conditions that you identify yourselves with Zion.
O then will Zion be comforted, when the last conflict is over, and the last enemy vanquished. Then, when Satan and his host is overthrown, will Zion be comforted, in that glorious city, where there will be no more pain.
Many think that we are very precise and strict, and that we abound in reproofs and corrections. But I ask what soldier ever asked to be comforted on the field of battle! Action! action!! says the word of command. Then when victory has crowned the brow of the conqueror, may he with laurels rest in the warm embrace of public gratitude, and pensioned, and honored may spend his life amid the harvests of plenty, and the applause of cotemporaries. But the soldier who sought ease and comfort on the battle field, may pine his life away in inglorious envy, and lost honor, and disgraceful neglect.
So the saint is now on the battle field of life, and when his commander shall call him to account, he will ask him not, How much comfort did you take, but, How did you fight.