Hope in the Resurrection
By Cornelia Rice
Dear Bro. White: It is cheering to my heart to open the Review and there find a letter from some former acquaintance, or loved one in the present truth; and I often feel sad because I do not oftener see such names; but shall I keep silence because they do? I think not. I have often heard it said in days gone by at conference meetings, "Let the most unworthy speak first." If this is the rule in speaking through the Review, then I may speak. But shall I speak of clouds, and doubts, and darkness, and of the many bitter things I could write against my own soul? or shall I speak of the goodness of God in leading me out to see and embrace the messages which are so rejected by the greater portion of christendom? The fables of the present day have no charms for me, although it seems that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul has an irresistible charm to many. They contrast their elysian fields with the cold and silent grave; therefore they say, Give us the doctrine of Socrates and Plato, but away with Jesus and the resurrection. It looks to me now as though these two doctrines coming in contact in the days of the apostles called down the bitterest ire of Pagan Rome, and the Jews had so far embraced this doctrine that the very priests were grieved with the apostles that they taught through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. But this is my hope. The Life-giver is coming. I hear him say, "I am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, and have the keys of hell and of death." O, I thank his name that I believe his coming draweth nigh. I want to be prepared and have the wedding garment on. I want to be among the wise that shall understand, and see the fulfillment of God's word in the events that are transpiring around us. I see God's preparation day has come,
With lightning speed the chariots run,
The fir-trees shaken are.
The earth decays and waxeth old,
In sin are sinners growing bold,
And haste their doom to share. The nations, too, are waking up,
To drink of God's avenging cup,
And spue, and reel, and fall;
And though the signs speak out so plain,
The watchmen blinded still remain,
And give no warning call. God hath a people, thank his name!
Who will the messages proclaim,
Though Israel will not hear.
Yet like true watchmen will they cry,
The day of wrath is drawing nigh,
The Judge will soon appear. Cornelia Rice.
Folsomdale, N. Y.