420
Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
faithful to do their duty and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefit
they can gain. The faithful worker for the Master will improve every
opportunity to place himself directly under the rays of light from the
throne of God, and this light will be reflected upon others.
And not only should the prayer meeting be faithfully attended, but
as often as once each week a praise meeting should be held. Here the
goodness and manifold mercies of God should be dwelt upon. Were we
as free to give expression to our thankfulness for mercies received as
we are to speak of grievances, doubts, and unbelief, we might bring joy
to the hearts of others, instead of casting discouragement and gloom
upon them. The complainers and murmurers, who are ever seeing
the discouragements in the way, and talking of trials and hardships,
should contemplate the infinite sacrifice which Christ has made in their
behalf. Then can they estimate all their blessings in the light of the
cross. While looking upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith,
whom our sins have pierced and our sorrows have burdened, we shall
see cause for gratitude and praise, and our thoughts and desires will
be brought into submission to the will of Christ.
In the gracious blessings which our heavenly Father has bestowed
upon us we may discern innumerable evidences of a love that is infinite,
and a tender pity surpassing a mother’s yearning sympathy for her
wayward child. When we study the divine character in the light of
the cross we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended with
equity and justice. In the language of John we exclaim: “Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should
[462]
be called the sons of God.” We see in the midst of the throne One
bearing in hands and feet and side the marks of the suffering endured
to reconcile man to God and God to man. Matchless mercy reveals to
us a Father, infinite, dwelling in light unapproachable, yet receiving
us to Himself through the merits of His Son. The cloud of vengeance
which threatened only misery and despair, in the reflected light from
the cross reveals the writing of God: Live, sinner, live! ye penitent and
believing souls, live! I have paid a ransom.
We must gather about the cross. Christ and Him crucified must be
the theme of contemplation, of conversation, and of our most joyful
emotion. We should have these special appointments for the purpose of
keeping fresh in our thoughts everything which we receive from God,
and of expressing our gratitude for His great love, and our willingness