There are many points of faith which are encouraging to the professor, but it will do us no good to believe all the present truth, unless we have corresponding works. It is needful that the Christian should have faith, but a man is not justified by faith only.
Dear reader, you sometimes wonder why your heart is not filled with the sweet, melting Spirit of God, as it was when you first believed the truth. Are you as zealous of good works as you then were? or are you growing cold and formal? You then believed there was one God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested the seventh; you commenced keeping the Sabbath, and by your works you were justified; our heavenly Father was well pleased, and blessed you abundantly.
You believe that Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary, that the judgment commenced with the righteous dead, and will soon end with the righteous living, that the remnant who are sealed will be pronounced by Him a holy people; but he that is filthy will be so still. While this is your faith, are you, by your works, proving to others that you believe what you profess? If you are not, you surely will die a spiritual death. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith and have not works? can faith save him? Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” “was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac, his son, upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” Jesus proved by His works to the unbelieving Pharisee, that he was the Son of God. “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” We cannot move along like the world who think of nothing but “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,” and finally have a home with the pure. Who could expect a home in that happy land, without first “cleansing himself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit?” without living soberly and righteously in this present evil world?
Do not lag behind and look with suspicion upon the work of God. Come forward, and with the messengers put your shoulder to the wheel. Arise, awake from that death-like stupor, and help speed on the last message of mercy to a dying world. Show by your lives of self-denial at home, and the giving of your means to help spread the truth abroad, that you believe what you profess. “By their fruits ye shall know them.”
I feel solemn when I think the angels will soon cease pleading. To those who are slow to work it will be said, “They are joined to their idols, let them alone.” Oh! I entreat of you, be not satisfied with a mere form of religion. In the last days there shall be a class of professors, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.” Such only carry darkness with them. I hope all the dear ones now keeping the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will awake to their true condition before High Heaven. Be not discouraged if you are exceeding sinful, for “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
“Wake up brother, wake up sister,
Seek, oh seek, this holy state!
None but holy ones can enter
Through the pure celestial gate.”
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald Feb. 5, 1867