Labors In The Piedmont Valleys
The next day, Sabbath, I spoke to the brethren and sisters in the
hired hall in which they held their regular Sabbath meetings. Owing
to a delay in getting out the appointment, few besides our own people
were present. But I felt the same interest in speaking to the few that I
would have felt in addressing hundreds. Choosing as my text
Isaiah
56:1-7,
I tried to impress upon them the importance of obeying God
and walking in the light, regardless of the opinions or course of the
world.
“Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice; for my
salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed
is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it;
that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from
doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined
himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated
me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry
tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths,
and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant:
Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place
and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an
everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger,
that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of
the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from
polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; even them will I bring to
my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their
burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar;
for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”
The question may arise in some minds why we as a people are
separated from the world into little companies. We answer, It is not
because we choose to differ from those around us, but because we see
the necessity of obeying all the requirements of God. If any feel that
it is of no consequence whether we obey all his commandments or
not, they have only to look back to Eden to see what dire results befell
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