The Lord a Present Help.
By S. Elmer
I WOULD say to the brethren and sisters scattered abroad that I am still striving to make my way from this world of sorrow to that better land. Unusually severe have been the trials I have been called to pass through for the last two years. At such times when bowing at the altar of prayer, such has been the anguish of my heart that I have begged the Lord to send me strength, and I have had reason to believe my prayers have been answered. At times I have been wonderfully sustained. To the Lord be all the glory. Surely he is a present help in time of trouble. But O, what could I have done had not the light of present truth shone on my pathway. It is indeed a glorious light, and here I can adopt the language of the poet, "Had not thy promise held me up,
Had not thy word sustained;
I must have perished in my grief,
No other help remained."
It is indeed a consoling thought in all our afflictions that the Saviour is so soon coming to take the weary home. Not much longer will the care-worn pilgrim wander in this low vale of sorrow. Not much longer will he be called to mourn over blasted hopes or meet with disdain or cold neglect from those of whom he had hoped better things. We see that Bro. and sister White have suffered much in this way. So it was with the apostle Paul. Among other trials he mentions that of being in peril among false brethren. How sad has been my heart in times past to hear one whom I had once esteemed as a brother try to put down those gifts which I solemnly believed were from heaven. As I have listened hour after hour to his unwelcome conversation as he was trying to convince me of the absurdity of our position, I have in the anguish of my heart hastened to my only refuge—prayer; and something seemed to whisper to my stricken heart, The Lord will take care of his cause. But as it has been in many instances so may the sad effects of error be traced in this brother's case. Once he appeared so established as to the Sabbath that we could not believe he would ever give it up; but he went on from one step to another till he finally gave up the present truth; but it seems he has not prospered either in temporal or spiritual things. Those who will not be prevailed on to believe as to the gifts would do well to heed the counsel of Gamaliel as recorded in Acts v, 38, 39. Who would wish to wage such an unequal warfare, and thus be found fighting against God. Far better would it be to strive together for the unity of the Spirit, and earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.
S. ELMER.
Ashfield, Mass.