The Laodicean Message and Repentance
By P. M. Bates
BRO. SMITH: I read the Review with increasing interest, and find satisfaction and comfort in its pages, especially the communications from the dear saints scattered abroad. I have often wished I could express my feelings to them in return, but a sense of my inability to edify has prevented me. But if others should refrain for a similar reason, we should lose much that is interesting to the church, as calculated to do good. It is the duty of every one to do what they can, and not withhold their offering because it is small. I have read the evidence adduced that we are in the Laodicean state of the church, and it looks very conclusive to me that it is so. If I was at all sceptical on that point, my own experience would have been very convincing. I often felt alarmed that such a listless feeling pervaded my mind, and frequently resolved to rise in the strength of Israel's God; but my resolutions "like the morning cloud and early dew soon passed away." But when the message came, it was accompanied by the Spirit and power of God. I humbly trust that by the assisting grace of God I have felt the rebuke, heeded the chastisement, and by zealous repentance am striving for the gold, the white raiment, and eye-salve, that I may shun that awful threatening, "I will spew you out of my mouth." My dear brethren and sisters, let us come up to this last work. It appears to me we have no more time to dally away. God has borne with us until we can reasonably expect it no longer. Let the time past suffice that we have been at ease in Zion; God has pronounced a woe against such. How secure! Knew not that we were poor, miserable, blind and naked. How good the Lord is to give us this timely admonition. Truly we may count his long-suffering salvation. Our position is so clearly defined in the Bible, and the evidence is so conclusive that we have had the first, second, and we are now in the third angel's message, which brings to light our duty to keep the Sabbath, that we have rested too secure—feeling that we were "rich, increased in goods, and had need of nothing." I praise God that he has not taken his holy Spirit from me. I feel daily to renew my covenant with him, and my choice to serve him. I regret that so much of my time has run to waste. It was seven years last January since I commenced to keep the holy Sabbath. Though I have enjoyed much of the presence and Spirit of the Lord, yet I feel that I have not lived up to my high privilege. I cannot rest satisfied without an abiding evidence that my ways please God. Why is it not our privilege as much as it was Enoch's, who walked with God and was not, for God took him? We who are looking for our Lord ought to be ready for translation at any moment. This is a great work, but no more than we have power to perform, because God requires it, and we have the assurance from the blessed Word that he will assist us. "He will give grace and glory and withhold no good thing from those that walk uprightly." O let us all be awake to this all-absorbing subject. How sad, how deplorable, for any that have been in the Advent movement, passed through the Angels' messages, felt the spirit of consecration that was so universal in 1843-4, now at this late hour to fall back for the want of heeding the counsel of the true Witness. O may we hear his voice while he is knocking, open the door that he may come in and sup with us and we with him. What condescension! Still further, "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." O my heart says, Praise the Lord for the prospect of soon seeing Jesus as he is, and the promise of being made like him. Let us faithfully hold fast our confidence, steadfast even unto the end. Fairhaven, Mass., July 19th, 1857