Awake and Come Up Higher
By I. D. Van Horn
Bro. SMITH: I rejoice in the blessed hope of the soon coming of the Lord. My heart is still in unity with the remnant people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I praise the Lord for his long-suffering and loving kindness towards me, in permitting me to be a partaker of that peace, that joy, and that consolation which result from a strict obedience to the will of God. The little company that meet at Bro. Weed's, in Tompkins, every Sabbath, are striving to overcome the "accuser of the brethren," by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Though few in number (fourteen, besides the children), we feel the necessity, and are fully determined, by the assisting grace of God, to awake from our lethargy, to heed the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, and to come up on higher ground. We feel the importance of consecrating all to the service of God, of giving up all the trifling things of this world, and setting our affections on things above, and of making our calling and election sure; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There seems to be an increasing interest in our meetings; and there seems to be a spirit of humble submission to the will of God. Our cry is, O Lord, wake us up and lead us by thy Spirit. We expect that the message will soon go forth with power, when the warning voice of the third angel will be heard all over the land, inviting and warning the inhabitants of the earth to flee from the wrath of God, the seven last plagues, which will be poured out without mixture upon them that worship the beast and his image, and receive the mark of his name. We want to be ready to enter into the spirit and power of the message, that we be not left behind an easy prey to him that watcheth for our souls, and so be spued out of the mouth of the Lord. What a solemn time is this in which we are living! "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." This scripture seems to be especially applicable to the present time. O let us awake and cast off the mantle of lukewarmness. Let us watch and pray lest we fall into temptation, and that day come upon us as a thief. O Lord, lead us by thy Spirit, is my prayer. Yours striving for the kingdom.