Overcoming Through the Blood of Jesus
By Lorinda S. Carpenter
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I feel that the Lord is great and abundant in mercy. I feel to praise his great and excellent name for what he has done for me. My heart is with the people of God, and with them I must go to mount Zion. I long for the time to come, which I believe is but a little way in the future, when the people of God will be united, coming up like an army with banners. The Lord has greatly strengthened me of late to overcome. I have tried too long to overcome (as many express it) in my own weak way. We may go mourning all our days over faults and sins, and unless we look away from self to some higher source, we shall make an entire failure. But I believe we may try the virtue of the atoning blood of Jesus. By a hearty repentance, and confession of all our sins, we may find pardon, sweet pardon, and grace to help in every time of need. O, what a fountain there is open for us! Shall we neglect such a kind offer of salvation from sin, by shrinking from the cross of confessing our faults and errors? O, no. I am determined that no sacrifice shall be too dear for me to make, if I may but gain eternal life, and feel that an abundant entrance will be administered to me into the everlasting kingdom. I feel thankful for the manifestation of the gift of the Spirit that is in the church. My prayer is that I may ever be in a place to receive and profit by all the reproofs given for our benefit. I hope you will all forgive my coldness and backwardness in the cause of the Lord, and all that you have seen wrong in me. I am trying so to live that I may claim all those promises and blessings spoken of in Matt. v, 3–11. I want to be fitted up and prepared to occupy some place in the building, and when Jesus comes, to be ready for translation.