Patience, Brethren, and Courage.
By R. F. C.
"HERE is the patience of the saints." Rev. xiv, 12. "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold the judge standeth before the door." James v, 7–9. Some days since, I accidentally found a small scrap of The Advent Herald, and Signs of the Times Reporter, dated, Boston, June 4, 1845. In it I find "Bro. Miller" reported as commenting upon the latter text, as follows: "What need have we of patience at the present time? This will not apply to those who hate the Lord's appearing. It cannot apply to those who believe it is a great way off; or is to be spiritually. It must therefore apply to those only who are anxious for the Lord to come. He had seen men almost ready to leap for joy when the evidence of Christ's coming had been presented. When such are disappointed, they have great need of patience. All the chronology he can find in the Scriptures seems to terminate about the year 1843. He believed that we had understood the time as nearly as God designed it should be understood. But that time having expired, many of our brethren have great need of patience to wait for it. The churches who have no faith on this subject have no need of patience. They will not even claim that this text will now apply to them; for they want to defer the Lord's coming until they have converted the world. He believed the apostle James had his eye in vision on the very time we now occupy, when having done the will of God, we have great need of patience." The justness of these remarks is evident. Doubtless the assertion, Here is the patience of the saints, began to have force as long ago as 1845. But Bro. Miller did not live to see its connection with the third message. He was right in saying they had understood the time as nearly as God designed they should. Of course he designed we should understand definite periods definitely correct. It had been discovered that the period of 2300 days terminated in the fall of 1844. But as trials deepen, patience is more and more needed. Some may lose their patience and faith by the trials we are called, as a people, to endure. Some, whose hearts are not sufficiently in the work, may be sifted out. Under our present trials, it is a favorable opportunity for rebellious spirits to manifest themselves. They may say, perhaps of the diseased servants of God, as the enemies of David said of him: "An evil disease cleaveth fast unto him; and now that he hath he shall rise up no more." Psa. xl. If any have it in their hearts, now is the time. But it will be much better to wait with patience. For though the good man "fell, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." Psa. xxxvii, 24.21 In another corner of the scrap of paper I mention, I find the following: "Let us have no enemies in disguise among us, professing to be friends. Let all who have no fellowship with the principles we inculcate, manifest it. But let all who are willing to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, not be afraid to tell the world what they believe the Scriptures teach, and fight manfully the good fight; for they will soon win the race. Yours in the blessed hope.
WILLIAM MILLER.
Boston, May 27, 1845." These remarks are as applicable now as then. Those who have no confidence in our work will do better to let it alone. But to those who have, take courage, friends, the Lord is on the side of his people, who, in the time of the patience of the saints, keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Our Father is at the helm. The latter rain will come in due season—the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned. Let each one be faithfully engaged in the work which God has given him to do. Every one at his post. The Lord will prosper his cause and take care of the result.