A Call to Christian Watchfulness
By I. S. Chaffee
WHILE reading and hearing of the commotions that are in the world, and even in the United States, it seems that there are trying times before us, and it is time for all the followers of the Saviour to be up and doing, to see if they all have the armor on, by which to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. There are a few of us here who meet from Sabbath to Sabbath to worship God, and we are trying to overcome all the devices of the evil one and make some little progress in the divine life. Although there are but a handful of us, the promise is that where two or three are gathered in Christ's name, there is he in the midst. I praise God for the promises that are left on record for his children. Salvation is free on compliance with the conditions which are all plain and easy. We all may enjoy a full, free and present salvation. We may feel that we are saved now from our sins, and not in them. It is the duty of every professed follower of Christ to present his body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, which is his reasonable service; and when we have done this, it is our duty to keep all upon the altar, and be dead to the world, but alive to Christ, and seek not to do our own will, but the will of our heavenly Father. O blessed thought! that we have not always to stay here where sickness and sorrow reigns, and where almost everything is untrue, and so little love and friendship is manifested by those who profess to follow Christ. O if all enjoyed as much of the love of God in the heart as it is the privilege of all to enjoy, it would be very different. When we contemplate the love of God to a guilty world, and the spirit that he manifested, it ought to lead us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and see to it that we cherish tenderly in our hearts the Spirit of Christ; for without it we are none of his. I am striving to live near my Saviour day by day, and to draw nourishment from Christ the living vine, so that I may have grace to overcome all the evils that I may have to encounter in this life, and at last reach the haven of eternal rest. Yours striving for immortality.
I. S. Chaffee.