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He must accept the provisions of the gospel; he must be reconciled
to God through obedience to His law and faith in Jesus Christ. His
life from thenceforth must be governed by a new principle. Through
repentance, faith, and good works he may perfect a righteous character,
and claim, through the merits of Christ, the privileges of the sons of
God. The principles of divine truth, received and cherished in the
heart, will carry us to a height of moral excellence that we had not
deemed it possible for us to reach. “And it doth not yet appear what
we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like
Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope
in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”
Here is a work for man to do. He must face the mirror, God’s
law, discern the defects in his moral character, and put away his sins,
washing his robe of character in the blood of the Lamb. Envy, pride,
malice, deceit, strife, and crime will be cleansed from the heart that is
a recipient of the love of Christ and that cherishes the hope of being
made like Him when we shall see Him as He is. The religion of Christ
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refines and dignifies its possessor, whatever his associations or station
in life may be. Men who become enlightened Christians rise above the
level of their former character into greater mental and moral strength.
Those fallen and degraded by sin and crime may, through the merits
of the Saviour, be exalted to a position but little lower than that of the
angels.
But the influence of a gospel hope will not lead the sinner to
look upon the salvation of Christ as a matter of free grace, while he
continues to live in transgression of the law of God. When the light of
truth dawns upon his mind and he fully understands the requirements
of God and realizes the extent of his transgressions, he will reform
his ways, become loyal to God through the strength obtained from his
Saviour, and lead a new and purer life.
While in Salem I formed the acquaintance of Brother and Sister
Donaldson, who desired that their daughter should return to Battle
Creek with us and attend the college. Her health was poor, and it
was quite a struggle for them to part with her, their only daughter,
but the spiritual advantages she would there receive induced them to
make the sacrifice. And we are happy to here state that at the recent
camp meeting in Battle Creek this dear child was buried with Christ
in baptism. Here is another proof of the importance of Seventh-day