DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—You feel lonely. You realize the need of those of "like precious faith" to assist you in your weary pilgrimage. And doubtless you often think of the disadvantages of your situation and condition, and of how much easier it would be to serve God under more favorable circumstances. You may be in error in this. In all conditions of life there are obstacles in the Christian's way to be overcome. None are exempt. And the promises are not to those who find no difficulties in the way, but to those who overcome.
At the best, we are all in a state of trial in this world. The trials of some may be greater and more severe than those of others; but the Lord gives more grace and strength to endure. None are so feeble that the strength of God is not sufficient to bear them through; none are so poor but they may be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that God has promised to them that love him. God is our strength; and he is able to save the weakest as well as the strongest. He calls upon all to trust in him for strength. In whatever condition he calls us, as to outward things, therein he requires us to serve him.
But we are apt to think that a change of circumstances, over which we have no control, would materially better our condition. And we repine at our hard lot, thinking what zealous Christians we would be, could we but change these circumstances. The poor man thinks, How would I help forward the cause of truth, if I only had wealth! But give him wealth, and perhaps he becomes covetous and stingy, and there is more danger of his being lost, than if the Lord had not prospered the labor of his hands. So it might be with you. With your new privileges of communion with the people of God, new duties and responsibilities, and perhaps new trials, would be laid upon you, and you would still have a burden and cross to bear.
Then, relying upon God, make the best of the condition in which you are. Your friends oppose you. Bear it with meekness, but adhere with firmness to the truth. Perhaps those who have authority over you, as a parent or a husband, would exercise that authority to prevent you from doing your duty to God. Prove by word and deed your loyalty and obedience in all things that do not interfere with the right of conscience and duty to God. In this be firm and unwavering; yet with all meekness and forbearance. Be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Take much pains to please, and melt the stony heart with love, but beg to be excused from violating your obligation to obey God. If you do so, God will be on your side and will give you the victory. You can obey God if you will. There is nothing too hard for the Lord; and a consistent Christian course, pursued with meekness and firmness, is the surest way to win your friends to the truth.
Be faithful in the place where God has called you; and should you not be permitted the privilege of Christian society in this world, in a little while you will meet with the whole family of Heaven, and enjoy their society forever.
R. F. COTTERELL.
Health Experience.
By Isaac Sanborn
Having been afflicted with inflammatory rheumatism more or less for ten years and having tried many remedies, I found nothing to meet my case till last spring as I started to Minnesota I left off eating pork, and while with Bro. John Bostwick in Minn., and talking with him about the importance of strict dietetic habits in order to the removal of local diseases, I made up my mind to adopt the two-meal system, leaving out149meat of every variety, which I commenced about the first of October, and have followed strictly ever since. I have not taken a drop of medicine of any kind. The result is, I have had no rheumatism, though I am much exposed traveling and preaching in crowded houses, and sleeping in damp beds, one of the surest ways of taking cold and being made sick. Yet I have passed through all these, and I have not so much as taken a slight cold. I enjoy as perfect health as probably can be enjoyed in this mortal state. I would not return to my old habits of eating for any consideration.
Oh that diseased mortals would remember that much of their suffering is the result of their eating and drinking and other unlawful habits which they must leave off, or must continue to suffer. I thank God for the light he has given upon this subject. May many be blessed as the result, is my prayer.
ISAAC SANBORN.
The Dregs Which the South is Drinking.
WHILE the whole nation has been involved in the guilt of slavery, and the judgments of God have been visited upon the North as well as the South, no one will deny that the South has been most guilty in this matter. They have defiantly cherished the iniquity in their very midst with all its appalling horrors before their eyes. And in addition to this, they inaugurated the fiendish and bloody rebellion of the past four years in order to perpetuate the evil. Justice would seem to require that they should receive a retribution proportionate to their guilt. The following sketch from a person residing in that section shows that they are drinking to the very dregs the cup of demoralization and desolation. He says:
"The whole country is disorganized and demoralized. We have nothing to protect us but the omnipotent hand of a just God. Men who in other days were distinguished for their sterling qualities and moral worth, are now equally distinguished for the dreadful crimes which they daily commit. . . . It is dangerous to go abroad for a single hour; for you are liable to be robbed or murdered at any moment, and even if you should escape, your house is liable to be broken open in your absence and plundered.
Families who were in affluent circumstances a few years ago, now hide themselves away in some desolate cabin, that they may not attract the notice of the world; and others who even now could live with an air of comfort around them, dare not show anything but their rags. To be suspected of having money is to be hung by the neck, or shot dead. O my God! how long, how long shall these calamities last? It is impossible for me to tell the story of our sins and sufferings. To the best of my knowledge there is not a religious organization of any kind in the whole country north and north-west of the Arkansas river, on to the Missouri State line, and even a hundred miles beyond. In all this wide-spread region there is but one man left to lift up his voice and proclaim the word of life. Here hundreds and thousands are perishing in their sins. Every degrading and demoralizing influence that wicked men can put in motion, is at work."
Meetings in Mich.
By Joseph Bates
Bro. White: We held two meetings with the church in Convis, Cal. Co., evenings of March 14th and 15th. The last meeting was more than ordinarily interesting.
March 16-20, held five meetings with the church in Charlotte, three in the village school-house, and two some three miles out of town, for the benefit of the scattered ones. A good interest was manifested.
March 21-27, visited, and held five meetings with the churches in Windsor and Oneida. These meetings in the district school-house, and seasons around the family altars were sweet and cheering, especially the closing one with the two churches in celebrating the ordinances of the Lord's house. The united testimony of the brethren in relation to fasting, humiliation and prayer, as recommended by the General Conference Committee, was animating and encouraging, as it was also in Convis and Charlotte.
Bro. G. W. Newman of Windsor was drafted for the war about this time. We believe prayer is being heard in his behalf, and he with others will be left free to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, by the presentation of the documents which have been so judiciously arranged for all such.
March 27, to April 4, visited the families of Sabbath-keepers in Leslie, and held six interesting meetings with the church in Bunkerhill, and attended one funeral. A Methodist minister and his wife came about nine miles to attend our Sabbath meetings, and manifested much interest to learn our position. We furnished him with some of our publications. Said he, "I shall read them all." One sister publicly declared her faith in the third angel's message and desired to go with the church. Three others commenced keeping the Sabbath with them this spring.
Joseph Bates.
Jackson, Mich., April 5th, 1865.
Reform vs. Fanaticism.
By R. F. Cottrell
"And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in." (Paths to be frequented. Bernard.) Isa. lviii, 12.
"Luther effected nothing new in the world, as he has been falsely charged; he did not raise a building for the future that had no connection with the past; he uncovered, he opened to the light of day the ancient foundations, on which thorns and thistles had sprung up, and continuing the construction of the temple, he built simply on the foundations laid by the apostles. Luther perceived that the ancient and primitive church of the apostles must, on the one hand, be restored in opposition to the Papacy, by which it had been so long oppressed; and on the other, be defended against enthusiasts and unbelievers, who pretended to disown it, and who, regardless of all that God had done in times past, were desirous of beginning an entirely new work." D'Aubigne. Hist. Ref. Vol. iii, p. 80.
Our Bible text predicts a reformation, and, as we believe, the last reformation, when the true people of God will turn away their feet from trampling on the Sabbath, as is expressed in the verse which immediately follows. And it sets forth the characteristics of every true reformation. A real reform removes the rubbish of tradition and discovers the ancient foundations, repairs the breach in the wall that has been broken down, and restores the old paths for the people to walk in. It lays no new foundation, but refers us continually to the Bible—to the foundation of prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone.
But every real work of reform will be encumbered with fanatical spirits hanging about its skirts, and trying to divert the attention of the people from the work of God, professing great illumination from the Spirit of God and imagining that they are especially called to some important work, a work entirely at variance with the work of God.
The text we have quoted from the History of the Reformation is in harmony with our Bible text. Luther's was a work of real reform. Although as a man he was not infallible, yet God led him in his work, step by step. But fanaticism, taking advantage of the excitement of the times, reared its unsightly head in the midst of the reformers, assuming to take the work into its own hands, and carry it forward with a vengeance. So while Luther had the venerated traditions of Romanism to contend with on the one hand, on the other, he had to defend the Reformation against the reckless spirit of fanaticism, which would pervert its principles, revolutionize it in its course, and instead of a blessing, make it a curse to humanity.
It is no wonder then, that, as the last work of reform is moving forward, disorderly spirits should appear, with their wild schemes and delusive dreams, and their disgusting come-out-ism that outrages all decency and would disparage any cause with which it is connected. The truth must stand up against long-cherished error on the one hand, made venerable by age, and on the other, vindicate itself from any connection with this wild and untamable spirit of fanaticism, which claiming relationship to the cause, is still its very worst enemy. But God will vindicate his cause and bring to naught every thing that shall rise up against it.
Fanatics generally claim to be especially led by the Spirit of God—that they are chosen instruments in his hand. This is no less than claiming a degree of inspiration. Every people who claim to have a special mission from Heaven virtually claim this: indeed every Christian is, in some degree, led by the Spirit of God. The spirit of fanaticism however is always found in opposition to the Spirit of truth. These two spirits or inspirations are in the world. We are directed in the word of God to try them. How shall this be done? Our text gives us information on this point. The Spirit of truth builds upon the old foundations, and leads into the old paths. It adheres closely to what God has taught by his Spirit in former times—it exalts the Bible. This is the character of the inspiration which we, as a people, profess to have in our midst. It points us to God's dealing in the past, from the beginning of the world, and instructs us that the same God is the one with whom we have to do. That his law and his ways are immutable. That as his judgments are on record in the past, so he cannot now look upon sin with approbation.
The opposite spirit, the spirit of fanaticism generally teaches something new and strange. To illustrate, I give an example which I heard a minister relate to his audience not long since. A lady that had especial spiritual exercises was told by the spirit, on a cold winter night, to arise from bed, go out without dressing and walk three times round the house, then come in and go into a cold room and there kneel down in a certain corner to pray. I cite this as an example. Fanaticism is for going on some pilgrimage—it is for going out to some particular place to meet the Lord, instead of waiting, in the way of well-doing, for the Lord to come as he has promised. Its votaries must go to some Nauvoo, Beaver Island, Utah or Celes-ta, to set up the kingdom and do the work which God has promised to do, while they think very little of what he requires them to do to meet him in peace.
Let the servants of God still labor on in the work of repairing the breach, and of restoring the ancient paths of the people of the Lord. God will crown their labor with success. The Spirit that builds upon the ancient foundation of apostles and prophets, is the same Spirit that inspired those ancient men of God.
R. F. COTTRELL.
What is Immortality?
By Dudley Marvin Canright
THE received definition of immortality, is that it is a principle, or an attribute which if once bestowed upon a being, can never be taken from him. He must live on to all eternity whether God wishes him to or not. Once immortal, and he can bid defiance to his Maker—he can never die. This would not only limit the power of God, but it would place his government in jeopardy. If one or more of these immortal beings should rebel against the government of God, he has a foe that can never be destroyed. Nay even this rebel could not destroy himself if he wished to! Thus he would be compelled to exist not only contrary to the will of the Creator, but against his own desire! To say the least, it looks very absurd that the all-wise God should ever bring into operation such a principle as that. We firmly believe that this is not the nature of immortality.
Our idea of the nature of immortality is this: It is a right, or an access, to the tree of life. Look at the example of Adam and Eve. "And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (or dying thou shalt die, margin)." Gen. ii, 8, 9, 16, 17.
Here we see that man could freely eat of the tree of life. Its very name—tree of life denotes its object, viz. to give or maintain life. As long as Adam could eat of this tree of life he would not die whether he were righteous or wicked. What follows proves this to be true. Adam sins—incurs the penalty of death. God had said that in the day that thou eatest of the forbidden fruit thou shalt surely die or dying thou shalt die. Observe now how he carries the penalty into execution; And the Lord God said, "Behold, the man is become as one of us to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever; therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east end of the garden of Eden cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Gen. iii, 22-24.
After Adam had sinned, the very first thing that the Lord does toward executing the penalty of death upon him, is to cut him off from the tree of life. Why was this? Lest he should eat and live forever. It does not say lest he should eat once and live forever, but eating continues as long as the living—eat and live forever. This demonstrates that as long as Adam could have access to the tree of life he would live, but no longer. If he had never sinned, he would always have had access to the tree of life and would have lived always. Then certainly he would have had immortality. Thus we see that immortality is simply a right, or an access to the tree of life. So long as any being has this right he has immortality. Deprive him of this right and you deprive him of his immortality. That minute he becomes mortal and must die. So it proved in the case of Adam. Dr. A. Clark's comment on Gen. ii, 17, sustains this idea. He says, "Heb., Muth tamuth," literally a death thou shalt die, or dying thou shalt die. "Thou shalt not only die spiritually by losing the life of God: but from that moment thou shalt become mortal, and shalt continue in a dying state till thou die."
To illustrate: A thrifty evergreen tree is growing before your door. It draws its nourishment from the earth—the ground is its source of life. You wish to kill that tree; so you take a spade and cut all around and under it, thus severing all the roots from the ground. Then you set it up on a board, and thus it is entirely cut off from its source of life—the earth. Now does it die that minute? that hour? that day? No, it does not, for the nourishment which it has already obtained will support its life some time. But you watch it: the leaves soon begin to wither, dry up, and turn yellow. The bark begins to shrivel up and the limbs to hang down. At length a leaf falls—then another—150then a limb—and so on till it all turns to the dust from whence it was taken. So with Adam. God pronounced the penalty of death against him. To execute this he cuts him off from his source of life and immortality—the tree of life. Then Adam, like the evergreen tree, soon begins to wither—grows weaker and weaker—and at last dies, and returns to dust. Thus is literally accomplished the threatening, "Dying thou shalt die."
The further the human race has come from the tree of life, the less of its strength is left in them. Hence we find them growing weaker and shorter lived in each successive generation, until now a man is born—looks around—and dies.
That a right to the tree of life constitutes immortality, we think is plainly taught in the New Testament. In 1 Tim. vi, 16, Paul says that God only has immortality; in 2 Tim. i, 10, that it is brought to light through the gospel; in Rom. ii, 7, that we should seek for it; and in 1 Cor. xv, 51-54, he gives us an idea of when and how we shall get it. The whole chapter is an argument on the resurrection. He says, "Behold I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (mark the time): for the trumpet shall sound (this is when Jesus comes 1 Thess. iv, 16), and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." N. B. Immortality is something that can be put on; therefore it can also be put off.
From the above we learn that we get immortality when the resurrection takes place at the coming of Christ. But we are not here told what constitutes immortality. By comparing this with Rev. xxii, 12-14 we shall obtain the desired information. Here, only in different words, the same event is described i. e., the coming of Christ and the bestowal of immortality upon God's people. Says Jesus, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Now mark the reward). Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Ah! here it is. A right to the tree of life is the reward that Jesus brings with him. Paul calls it immortality; Jesus calls it a right to the tree of life; thus showing that these are synonymous terms. By comparing verses 1-3, with Isa. lxvi, 22, 23, we see that the saints in the new earth will come up and eat of the fruit of the tree of life every month. Thus their immortality will be perpetuated forever.
As our space will not permit a longer argument on this point, we will close by asking a few questions. 1. Why is it necessary for the saints to eat of the fruit of the tree of life if it has nothing to do with immortality? 2. We would ask them who hold that simply once partaking of this fruit will forever bestow immortality, why is it necessary for the saints to continually partake of it?
Having now learned what immortality is, we readily see that God can bestow it upon, or take it from any creature at his will. This leaves immortality entirely in the hands of God and makes the saying of Paul true that "God only has immortality."
D. M. Canright.
Strange Views.
By WM. JOHNSTON
BRO. WHITE : In my short tour in Juniata county, Pa., I found a number of brethren who believe in the Sabbath of the Lord, and who spend the day in each other's houses, in exhortation, prayer and praise. I had the pleasure of spending two Sabbaths with them, and would have had many pleasant meetings, more than I had, but for the impassable state of the roads, which were piled full of snow, fence high, and which confined us in doors, more than half the time.
I found that these brethren, held the following particulars (or notions), which I wrote out and submitted to their inspection, and which they acknowledged to be a part of their religious faith; namely,
1. That Adam and Eve were created mortal beings, and that their posterity do not possess immortal souls.
2. That when they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, they died a spiritual death, that very day.
3. If they had not eaten the forbidden fruit they would have died a natural death, in due time, because they were not immortal; but if they had eaten of the tree of life, as they were commanded, they would have lived forever; and that they had a right to the tree of life, not only by the command of God, but by virtue of the innocency of the Lamb of God, which was in them. Rev. xiii, 8.
4. That by transgression, Adam and Eve lost their innocency, or communion with God, which these brethren, call a spiritual death, which death, they say, is entailed on all our race, until Christ is formed in our hearts, the hope of glory. Col. i, 26, 27. This is what they call, "the first resurrection." Col. iii, 1; Rev. xx, 6. Also Rom. vi, 4.
5. They say and teach, that at the second advent of Christ, he will restore the earth to its primitive purity, and at that time, the dead, both small and great, will appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; and that he will separate the just from the unjust, and will say to the just, "Come ye blessed of my Father," &c. Matt. xxv, 31, 32. Also 2 Tim. iv, 1; but that the wicked on his left hand, will be in the judgment, and must give an account for the deeds done in the body. Matt. xii, 86; John v, 27-29.
6. They also hold, that now the judgment being set, and Christ upon his great white throne; Rev. xx, 11; Matt. xix, 28; this is the time the apostles of the Lamb will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel; Rev. xx, 4, and that all his saints, will live with him a thousand years, and reign over all those nations, who were not partakers of the "first resurrection (or, in other words, who have not followed him in the regeneration) until they (the nations) are brought to a complete restoration, or into that state in which Adam was before his fall. 1 Cor. xv, 22. During this period, they believe, that Satan will be bound, and not permitted to tempt the nations, until at, or near the end of this thousand years of judgment, when he will be let loose for a "little season," and go forth to deceive the nations on the four quarters of the earth; Rev. xx, 7, 8, and that all who will be deceived by him, or not continue faithful during this probationary period, will be cast into the fiery lake, which is the second death.
7. They believe, that all those nations, and individuals, who will withstand the temptations of Satan, for this short season, will then come to the first resurrection. Rev. xx, 5, which is come union with God; and Christ having now brought all nations into subjection to his will, or rule, will deliver up the kingdom to God even the Father, to whom, even Christ himself will become subject, that God, may be all in all. 1 Cor. xv, 27, 28.
This, these brethren, call "the restitution of all things."
Many of the above items, being entirely new to me, and at the same time, appearing incompatible with views held forth in your paper, I have taken the liberty to submit them for your criticism if you see proper, having permission to do so.
WM. JOHNSTON.
REMARKS. We do not publish the above for the purpose of replying to the views set forth, but simply to say that they are not views which are endorsed by the body of S. D. Adventists. The third angel's message under which the Sabbath truth is now being promulgated has no affiliation with any views which border on the doctrine of what is called the Age to come. Such are some of the views set forth above. And let it be marked by one and all that the Sabbath truth will make no progress in connection with such views. The Sabbath is now being proclaimed to the world under the fulfillment of prophecy, and it will make progress in no other way than in the order of that prophecy. What is the Sabbath doing in the hands of the Jews? Nothing. What in the hands of Seventh-day Baptists even? Nothing. And what in the hands of the Age to come believers, what few there are that have taken hold of the Sabbath? Nothing. And it never will; for God's Spirit does not accompany error; and it is this Spirit alone, not the popularity of the doctrine, which is to give success to this work in the earth.
ED.
Waiting.
By Rosina F. Phippeny
WHILE thinking upon the time in which we are living, my mind is strongly wrought upon. Living in this solemn time of waiting for our Saviour to finish his last work in the heavenly sanctuary. How long ere he will finish it? We may well ask ourselves this question. And while we are thus waiting, are we making ready for his return, that we may stand with him on mount Zion? Or are we dreaming away these precious moments, thinking perhaps, there are many years left us wherein to get ready for that great event? Oh let us not dream too long! but be ready when the Bridegroom comes, having on the wedding garment, ready to go with him to the marriage supper.
We are truly living "in a grand and awful time," surrounded with "wars and commotions," and our own loved country deluged in blood, the horrors of it too awful to contemplate. My God when will it cease! We have been waiting, waiting till the heart has grown sick with hope deferred.
But the Lord will hear the cries of his people. Ere long the sound of war will be hushed for a little season, and the loud cry of the third angel's message go forth in mighty power to those that now only hear the sound of musketry and artillery. Soon those poor bondmen will hear the welcome news of the coming kingdom. And all the honest ones be brought out upon a firm foundation, ready to receive the seal of the living God, and for the conclusion of the grand drama. May God help us to be awake to the duties before us, and give us grace to perform all the same while waiting for the closing scenes.
A few more disappointments, a few more crosses to bear, a few more afflictions and persecutions, and all will be over. We find comfort by going to the inspired word; James says, "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 the latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Jas. v, 7, 8.
It makes my heart glad, to know that soon we shall behold our great Deliverer arrayed in all his glory, descending to gather his elect from among the wicked of the earth. Yes, soon the sighs and groans of the poor bondman will cease; for the great Emancipator will soon come to sever the chain of oppression that now binds him down.
And now while we are waiting for the re-appearing of our Lord, let us pray that righteousness may envelop us as a garment, and strive to possess the mind that was in our blessed Saviour; that we may stand firm and unshaken in the truths of God's holy word. So that when the great Prince of peace shall come, we may be able to stand.
We are surely living amid earth's closing scenes; and how careful ought we to live, that we do nothing that will be brought up in judgment against us, but that we may stand acquitted in that great day.
"Then let us wait, nor deem too long
The closing hours of grace,
But trim our lamps with cheerful song,
Till we shall see his face."
ROSINA F. PHIPRENY.
North Star, Mich.
Encouragement in the Narrow Way
By C. G. Satterlee
From Bro. Satterlee.
BRO. WHITE: We have been greatly strengthened of late by hearing a few very appropriate discourses delivered by Brn. Taylor and Whitney; and we feel a stronger determination to quicken our pace toward the better land. We mean to take heed to the instructions given us. I am thankful to my heavenly Father that I have a humble place among that peculiar people who are looking for the soon coming of the Just One. And truly grateful am I that it was not said of me as it was of Ephraim of old, He is joined to his idols let him alone. Yes, happy am I that the Lord did turn my feet into the path of his testimonies, and gave me a heart to receive the truth. Oh for wisdom to rightly speak, and rightly act, and live out these glorious truths that we may win souls to Christ.
I would say to the scattered ones that I am still trying to walk the narrow way and mean by the grace of God to continue to the end of the race. Let us all strive more than ever for perfect victory over sin, and151be more diligent in the way, for as we see the signs of Jesus' soon coming so fast fulfilling, I feel the necessity of stepping fast knowing that the time is short. May God help me to improve it to his glory.
C. G. Satterlee.
Redfield, N. Y.
Gird on thy Armor.
By Mary M. Buckland
Gird on thy armor! oh my soul,
And onward press thy way,
For just before thee lies the goal,
And soon will dawn the day.
Though many trials meet thee here,
And sorrows press thee down,
Look up and trust thy all with God,
And soon thou'lt win the crown.
'Tis not by sitting idly thus,
And mourning at thy fate,
That thou a victory wilt gain,
Oh hasten! ere too late.
Gird on thy armor! take the field,
And valiant meet the foe,
Resolved to conquer, or to die,
Go forth to battle, go.
Trust all with God, he'll ne'er forsake,
He'll give thee strength to bear,
He'll lead thee safely to the end,
Thou hast no cause to fear,
While walking in that narrow way
He's bid thee travel in,
He'll help thee to subdue each fault,
A glorious crown to win.
Gird on the armor, oh arise!
Be faithful and be strong!
Work while thy master calls thee now,
The conflict is not long.
Soon will thy trials all be o'er,
Soon will our Saviour come,
Then thou wilt gain a rich reward
Safe in thy Father's home.