p. 88 | Our Enjoyment by J. A. Dayton

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 7, 1865

Our Enjoyment.

By J. A. Dayton

DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD. 1 COR. X, 31.

This portion of Holy Writ was recently brought home to my mind with great force, by a few words dropped from the lips of a stranger upon whom I called. I inquired how she enjoyed her mind? "Oh," said she, "I always enjoy myself. Why, I've been a professor of religion for twenty years!" Words fitly spoken! As much as to say, Why! don't you know I am a child of God? How can any one fail to be happy who enjoys his approbation? I felt it was at once an exhortation and a rebuke; for I had not always given evidence to the world of the power of religion to preserve a happy frame of mind, but had sometimes allowed myself to become despondent and discontented with my earthly lot. I pondered upon her words. I thought how much better they recommended the religion of Jesus than the gloomy and discouraging answer sometimes heard from the lips of those who profess to be children of God, "Oh I don't get along very well," followed by a tedious recital of real, or often fancied woes, all of which might have been turned into blessings by making a right use of adversity. Should any, whose eye may rest upon these lines, have failed in this respect, may they also be exhorted by the example of this follower of Jesus, to "go and do likewise."

J. A. DAYTON.

Chesaning, Mich.