A Testimony to the Third Angel’s Message
By Wm. H. Brinkerhoff
BRO. SMITH: I have felt it to be my duty for some time to write a few lines for the little sheet that is devoted to the cause of our God and his truth. I know that it is my privilege so to do; and as duty and privilege should go together, I will try and pen a few thoughts at this time. Our cause is one, our interests are one, and our aims should be one. I had not known until within the past few months what it was in reality to have the love of God shed abroad in my heart. It is true, I had some of the doctrines of the Bible in theory, but not in practice; or in other words, I had the truth, but the truth did not have me. But praise the Lord! last Summer Brn. Hull and Cornell came out here, and I soon found that135the message to the Laodicean state of the church fell with full force upon me. I thought that I did not really need anything; that I was rich; but how soon I found that I was poor, blind, miserable and naked. I really feel to praise the Lord that the third angel's message has been brought to my view, and that I now can see light, glorious light, unfolded in the messages that are being proclaimed to a sinful world. I now want to be of that number of whom it is said, There are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev. xiv, 12. I want to stand on Israel's side, and have Israel's God for my God. I want to be of that number that shall stand upon the sea of glass and sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Rev. xv, 2, 3. Now, dear brethren and sisters, will merely having a desire to obtain these things be all that is necessary in order to get them? No, never. But how many of us are apt to think that such is the case; that we need not be to any trouble; need not sacrifice anything; and that we have not much to overcome. But what says the true and faithful Witness? "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev. iii, 21. Now here is an overcoming process for those who expect to sit with Christ in his throne. What! Is the child of God ever to have thus much honor bestowed upon him? Yes, dear brethren; and is it not worth seeking after? Hear what Paul says: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Rom. viii, 16, 17. In this testimony it is declared that the children of God are to be joint-heirs with Christ. Glorious promise! May it soon be fulfilled. Yet here is a condition laid down, or an if, placed in the passage: "If so be that we suffer with him." We must belong to that suffering part of Christianity who love to walk in the way that Jesus went. Peter says, Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. 1 Pet. iv, 1. Here it is declared that as Christ has suffered for us, we should arm ourselves with the same mind; that is, to suffer. Do all we can, we cannot do too much for or in the cause of Christ. It demands all our efforts and our services. "For ye are bought with a price." When we realize what has been done for us, how Jesus Christ has died that we might live, are we not led to exclaim that heaven is cheap enough, do all we can? Peter says, And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. iv, 18. After doing all that we can we have done only just enough to gain an admittance to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Can we find any place where we may sit down and do nothing? sacrifice nothing? overcome nothing? and suffer nothing? Dear brethren, if these things be so, how active, vigilant and stirring we should be. When we recollect that there is not a single drone in the enemy's hive; not a single person but what is ready to do his master's will, should we not, too, be willing to work? Is not our cause a good one? Is not our Master faithful and true? Let us arise and let our lights be burning. Let us be that peculiar people zealous of good works. O may it in truth be said of us, Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The city is almost in view. Yet a little while longer and Jesus will come. Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Glorious promise! Yours striving to overcome,
WM. H. BRINKERHOOF.