CLOSE OF THE VOLUME by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 13, 1860

CLOSE OF THE VOLUME.

By Editor

With this week's issue another volume of the REVIEW takes its stand with things numbered and finished. Another six months of its existence have completed their circuit. During this period what has transpired? Has the watchful believer in the near advent of his Lord seen anything to shake his faith or hope? Has he seen anything which would tend to show that his Lord delayed his coming? Has he seen any evidence of a coming era of peace and safety? or of the world's conversion? or of a temporal millennium? Nothing of the kind; but much the reverse. As the shades of twilight deepen down gradually into the darkness of night, and as the coming tempest casts a deeper and deeper shadow over the land, so the signs of the times are continually thickening around us, and more and more solemn are the portents of coming events on every side. The time draweth near when the King of kings shall visit this revolted province, take the righteous to himself, and gather out all those who do iniquity and who would not have him to reign over them. We even now hear the distant sound of his approaching chariot-wheels. Signs betoken his return. Unconscious nature proclaims his approach. Wicked men and seducers, those who hate him, reject his gospel, misuse his servants, and scoff at his coming, proclaim nevertheless, though unwittingly, that the Lord cometh. And the voice of prophecy is heard above the din of war and the strife of nations, proclaiming, "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints." Glorious announcement to his waiting church! Does it meet in all our hearts the ready response, "Even so, come Lord Jesus, come quickly?" He comes as our friend. He appears to the salvation of all those who look for him; and shall we not rejoice? Republicans are to-day rejoicing in their victories in worldly politics; shall not a higher, holier and more fervent joy fill our hearts at the thought that a being is soon to take the throne whose reign shall be all righteousness, whose acts will be influenced by none of those prejudices and passions which dwell more or less in every human breast?

Salvation, immortality, perfect exemption from sickness, sorrow, pain and death, and all the ills of this evil state, and above all, eternal life with all the good of earth, with the angels of God, and Jesus himself in his glorious kingdom—are not these prospects for which we can forego the pleasures and allurements of earth? Knowing that this shall ultimately be the reward of the persevering saints, can we not patiently wait the accomplishment of our hope? The husbandman, says James, hath long patience. He who has committed to the earth the precious seed, and looks only for a harvest, hath long patience for that harvest. Because the seed does not sprout sooner, or grow more rapidly, or bear fruit immediately, he does not become impatient or disheartened, and throw down his implements of husbandry and abandon his field to weeds and ruin; but he toils on in expectation of by and by reaping an abundant crop. He waits till he receives the early and latter rain. He waits and soon receives a bountiful reward for all his toil.

And this is the illustration with which James would enforce a lesson of patience upon all his brethren. Great is the prize before us; and in due time we shall reap if we faint not. In the language of the poet Longfellow,

“Let us then be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.”