The Future Glory of the Church
By H. R. Parsons
BRO. WHITE: As I was reading in the Bible to-day I happened to turn to the 60th of Isaiah, and was forcibly impressed with the representation there given of the future condition of the church of the living God. What a glowing picture by the man of God is contained in the last five verses of the chapter. "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land. . . . The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee. . . . Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall the moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous : they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation : I the Lord will hasten it in his time." Now I am fully convinced of the truths set forth in the quotations cited above. And if these are the words of the living God, declared by the mouth of his prophet, then we are left to conclude that subsequently there is to be a condition of things altogether different from the present state of affairs. It is to be a change most congenial to the feelings of those who love the appearing of Christ, and are waiting his second coming—are waiting and watching for the Lord to come. It will be a happy change indeed when our world is delivered from violence and oppression, and the brightness of the Sun of righteousness overshadows and destroys all iniquity. I feel as if it were of but little consequence to me how the world goes on, if I am only able to stand when my Master says, Come home. I hope to be able to enter into the city—into the New Jerusalem, and to sit down in the kingdom with all the sanctified, and to realize all the blessedness in store promised to the faithful. "Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, and be saved, for I am God, and there is none else." "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." Words from the lips of the Redeemer of the world. How gladly would I enjoy more of the presence of my Lord; but when I would do good evil is present, so that at times I am at a loss how to determine. A few weeks ago Eld. Cottrell was in our vicinity, and gave us a course of interesting lectures on subjects connected with our eternal destiny. They were clear, forcible, and conclusive, and were a battery against the enemy of all righteousness. A few were inclined to listen to the truth, and not a few concluded to believe in the good old adage that cursed is he that removeth his neighbor's landmark. Oh, how long, how long, will the world be bound in superstition's chains? How long will darkness oppress, and prevent the light of eternal truth from spreading? Oh, may we all who believe in the coming of Jesus drink long and deep from the well of salvation. May we sip and sip aqua vitæ, until our Saviour comes in the clouds of heaven. Yours truly,
H. R. PARSONS.