An Appeal to Overcome by F. T. Wales

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 13, 1861

An Appeal to Overcome

By F. T. Wales

From Bro. Wales.

DEAR BRO. WHITE: I wish to improve a few moments in saying through the Review to my dear brethren whom I so much love, that I am still striving to overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. Yes, dear brethren, the truth of the third angel's message looks more and more precious to me. I often feel as if I wanted my whole soul, body and spirit, engaged in the work. I thank God that he ever showed me his will concerning me, and I believe that he has; and by the grace of my Master I mean to do it. O, that I may be kept very humble. May the Lord help me to seek meekness, seek righteousness, so that it may be that I shall be hid in the day of the Lord's fierce anger. I often ask myself the question, Are we, as God's people, ready for that day of the Lord which hasteth greatly? I fear we are not. I was glad to hear the exhortation concerning fasting and prayer. I feel for one that there is much need of it.

Dear brethren, God will surely spew us out of his mouth if we do not arouse ourselves and be more engaged in this great work. Saith the Lord to the Laodicean church, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.”

Now, dear brethren, shall we, while God's dear servants are beseeching and entreating us to take earnest heed to the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, be careless, and cold, and indifferent? O, no. We cannot be. By God's help we will take warning and arm ourselves for the conflict which is before us. Let us pray earnestly that the Lord may help us, the remnant church, to get the white raiment, the eye-salve, the gold tried in the fire, that we may be like a city set on a hill which cannot be hid. My prayer to God is to spare the remnant church.

Dear brethren, let us be ready for every good work at all times, and in all positions. I was much pleased when I read Bro. Sawyer's letter. I felt to thank God that there are a few in Israel that are willing to trust God a little further than they can see. O, how slow we are to trust our heavenly Father. God's saints who are farmers sometimes forget that with the least breath of his mouth he can blight the crops which they are trying to raise, or perhaps cause the prices of produce to suddenly fall before they had made sales. Also we mechanics sometimes forget that God can stop our success in making sales for our articles of manufacture, or suffer some of our customers to fail, perhaps, in making us payments punctually, or cause us to lose some employment which we expected, &c., and all this misfortune perhaps through unfaithfulness and want of trust in God. Perhaps in many cases a lack of bringing all the tithes into the storehouse of God. Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

Yes, brethren, let us, as Paul says, be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Let us not be too fearful of not having enough for this or enough for that; but let us trust in God, be ready to every good word and work, be faithful soldiers for Christ, fight the good fight, keep the faith, make sure of eternal life, and go home and eat of the tree of life.

O, bless the Lord for the privilege of working in his glorious cause! O, blessed prospect, glorious hope of the children of God. O, I want to provide myself bags which wax not old, and lay up a treasure in heaven that faileth not. May the Lord bless his people and bring them up to mount Zion, and bring me up with them.

Your brother striving for eternal life.

F. T. WALES.

Melbourne, C. E.