p. 38 | J. CLARKE by J. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 31, 1861

J. CLARKE

By J. Clarke

BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM.

I AM confident that many are outwardly keeping the Sabbath, who suppose themselves on the way to mount Zion, who are yet as unacquainted with the deep movings of the Spirit, and know as little of practical religion, as the unbeliever. Such are flattering themselves with the hope of heaven, with the hope of eternal life, while the heart is yet unhumbled, the sins all unforgiven, the heart unchanged, the old man yet alive, the appetites and passions all unsubdued. Such are yet in the pursuits of this life with all the eagerness of worldlings, their hearts are all bound up in the world, they go with the people of God, they keep the Sabbath, and often attend upon public worship, and comfort their hearts with the assurance that they will finally make the same port with the people of God.

Such deem the devoted child of God (who warns them) a fanatic. They are safe enough, they vainly suppose, and I greatly fear that this warning will not be heeded by them, they are so busy with the world they will not have time to read this, or they will apply it to A, B, or C, to whom they will imagine it applies. It is hard to wake such, but forlorn as their prospect is, it is yet hopeful, if they will speedily repair to the fountain for cleansing; but never will sins be pardoned which have not been repented of; never will the tones of mercy reach the heart of brazen hypocrisy which stubbornly asserts its own purity.