"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
From Bro. Macomber.
Bro. Smith : The little flock in this place are still striving to enter in at the straight gate. We read that many shall strive, but few shall be able. It is a remnant that shall be saved; as we read in Rom. ix, 27, Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the numbers of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea a remnant shall be saved. But how shall we be saved. In following our own carnal desires? satisfying the lust of the flesh? Nay: this will not answer. We are to deny ourselves of many things that the world indulge in. I need not enumerate them. Some tell me they use tobacco for the toothache, and some use snuff for the catarrh, and some for one thing and some for another. Now I am persuaded that if we have a little faith such as the woman had that touched the hem of the garment of our blessed Saviour, we need not apply to these doctors for a remedy except they are beloved physicians like Luke, and our blessed Lord, who healed many of their diseases. We find in the word of the Lord a good direction for sick and afflicted ones in James v, 13, 14. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. We see it does not say use tobacco, or any of these filthy things, but to pray. The Lord will not deny us of any good thing if we walk uprightly.
Again the word says, Is any sick among you? (notice this, among you) let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. O praise the Lord! he has never given us directions and left us without the remedy.
I feel that it is time that the children of the Most High come out from the world and be separate, and get on the spotless robe of righteousness, and be like unto men that wait for their lord when he shall return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh they may open unto him immediately.
The Lord has watchmen on the walls who will give the trump a certain sound; and as it was with good old Simeon and Anna at the first advent of Jesus, so it will be with the true watchmen in this our day. The shepherds on the plains of Judea watched for the star that led them to Bethlehem's manger; and the Lord's chosen ones left the city of Jerusalem when they beheld it encompassed about by the Roman army: they knew then that it was time they left the city of destruction to flee into the mountains. And we read in 1 Thess. v, 4, But ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief; also verse 5, Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober.
We read in 2 Pet. i, 19, We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts, knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation; for the prophecy, &c. What is this sure word of prophecy? I think we can read a portion of it at least, in Dan. xi, 45, and xii, 1: And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain, yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time. And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book; and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Now, comparing these times, while the nations are in commotion, preparing for the great battle of Armageddon, we should be mindful that deliverance comes to the people of God in this great time of trouble mentioned in the prophecy. Seeing we look for such things what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
But as he which hath called you is holy, So be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.
"Deny thyself and take thy cross,
Is the Redeemer's great command,
Nature must count her gold but dross,
If she would gain this heavenly land.
"The fearful soul that tires and faints,
And walks the ways of God no more,
Is but esteemed almost a saint,
And makes his own destruction sure."
Yours keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
E. Macomber.
New Shoreham, R. I.