p. 135 | COMMUNICATIONS by J. Hamilton

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Dec 12, 1854

COMMUNICATIONS

By J. Hamilton

From Bro. Hamilton.

DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I desire to say a few words to all who are striving to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I doubt not that you all have felt with myself that this is a great point in our pilgrimage to attain unto; but as great as it is, John saw a company that had arrived at that point, and we find they alone are not required to drink of the wine of God's wrath, which we all profess to believe is soon to be poured out upon all who are found with the mark of the beast upon them, as shown by the Revelator.

Dear brethren and sisters, we can see the necessity as we near the great day of the Lord, that we examine ourselves that there may be no spot or wrinkle found on our garments; for if there is we shall not be prepared to stand with that holy company. Ever since I took God's word alone as my guide, and tried myself, my hope, my faith, by that, I have discovered many errors in both faith and practice and I have by the grace of God assisting me, laid one after another aside, and rejoiced in God that I had seen and gotten the victory over them. When I look back upon the path that I have traveled, although crooked, I can see it strewed with the old filthy rags of tradition and creeds of men, and my earnest desire and prayer to God is, that I may be stripped of every error that the truth alone may be my shield and buckler.

Dear brethren and sisters, this must be the case with us all before we can see eye to eye in the truth, before that memorable prayer of our Saviour can be fulfilled in us, that we can be one as he and the Father are one. Brethren and sisters, do you think this prayer will ever be fulfilled in us? If not, can we be the subjects of that prayer? O may we all strive for the unity of the Spirit, and for the bond of peace that we may have the evidence in our own hearts that we are those for whom Christ prayed; for we certainly have through the merciful direction of the Holy Spirit been led far in the advance of many, to say the least, in the knowledge of the glorious plan of salvation; and as we increase in the knowledge of the truth, should we not also in love and good works? for we are told that love is the fulfilling of the law. How rational, while God who made the law is love, that love alone can fulfill it. Well might Paul say, that all other good traits were good for nothing without love; and we can see that love is the foundation and the topstone of God's plan of salvation; therefore we cannot love God as we ought, without loving our neighbor as ourselves. By this we can see whether we are fulfilling the law. I fear that here I often fail, by not loving my neighbor as myself. My desire and prayer is that I with you may be able to fulfill the law.

I have been much benefitted by reading the writings of my brethren on holiness of life. Speak often one to another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

Yours, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.

J. HAMILTON.

Dec. 4th, 1854.