The Times of Refreshing.
By F. Gould
In consequence of the great apostasy, foretold by the apostle Paul, and incurred through the influence of the "man of sin," primitive order, and the gifts in the church, have been almost lost sight of; but they will be restored. There is already a sound of an abundance of rain. "Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you, whom the heaven must receive, until the time of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began." Acts iii, 19–21. This great refreshing is just before us. The signs are fast fulfilling which proclaim Christ near, even at the doors; and are we ready? Repentance, confession of sins, humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and turning to him with full purpose of heart, are required of us as a preparatory step in order that we may participate in the last closing notes of the message, and be gathered with the ripe sheaves into the garner. A good and correct theory of Bible truth, alone, will not be sufficient to give us a passport into that better kingdom. All our thoughts, words, and actions, must correspond with it. Then we shall be sanctified through the truth. The message to the Laodiceans is full of weight and power. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent." The prophet Joel gives us some characteristics of the third angel's message, and makes a special call to the church in connection with the closing scenes of earth. "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them." Joel ii, 15–17. God is fitting up a class of people that will stand when there shall be no mediator, when he that is filthy will be filthy still, and he that is holy will be holy still. The same rain that ripens the wheat for the garner, will also ripen the tares to be burned. I would say in the language of the prophet, Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment, seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. Zeph. ii, 3.