Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / June 1, 1869, edition 1 / Page 4
Part of Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
100 ZION’S LANDMARKS \Vl!,l.iAMSTON, N. C., } April 20th, 1800. $ Mr.s. 1!. vXnxa Phillips—Dear in (/hrist;—Your precious epistle of January 20th, was rather late coming to hand, but when it came, I found it richly laden with the glorious testimony of divine grace and truth, delineating the many trials and afflictions of a sol dier of the cross, all of wdiich goes to prove that you are marching under tiic banner of King Jtsus. You are a true sentinel, and I think, at your post, and 1 do not think you will mistake the Avord of command, and you need not be afraid, but seek to £11 the post assigned ; and although the night be cold and dark, and vou may be faint and hungry by the way, the order for discharge Avill soon come—all din of Avar Avill cease—the bles.sed day of peace Avill come—the glorious conquering King and Chief will appear with all the victories of his iilutrious conquest,and the CA'crlaating doors will be opened to let the King of glory in, Avith all his precious jewels redeemed by blood. Then Avill that song he sung, “Por thou A\’ast slain, and redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, tongue aad people, and nation.” The vis ion beheld by the beloved John wall then be most fully realiKod, when the question was asked, “Andiat are these which are arrayed in AA’hite robes, and AA'hence came they?” And the ansAver was, “these are thev which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made tliem white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in las temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dAvell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto liAung fountains of waters, and God shall wipe all tears from their eyes.” Is this not enough to en courage the true soldier of Jesus ? As you justly remarked, no matter how hard the life of the soldier is, if he is victorious in arms, ho regards no more the hardships undergone.— YY' knoAV and most fully believe, that every soldier of the cross Avill come otT coruj^ueror over the AA Orld, the flesh and the devil, yea, more than con queror through him Avho Iiatli loved them and washed them in his own blood and each Avill have a golden harp, and every string Avill he in tune. “Not unto us, not unto us, 0 Lord, hut unto thy name be all the glory.” What are ail of the trials and trib ulations of this life Avlieu compared Avith that eternal weight of glory in reserve for every child of grace ? Tribulation is a part of the inheri tance which Christ has bequeathed to his folloAvers. And the apostle Peter says, “beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial vdiich is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” When Ave trace the Old and New 'J’estament saints, Ave find that they Avere an af flicted people—they trod a thorny road, often through floods and flames. The great cloud of Avitnesses Avhich have gone before, foIloAved the bless ed -Redeemer of sinners through dan gers of every shape and name. In all ages doAAii to the present time, God’s people have OA^er been poor and afflicted; their conflicts Avith the world, the flesh and the devil have been mighty; and had it not been for the power of all conquering grace they Avould have been overcome by these terrible foes. But Iioav blessed the reflection, that the Christian’s God is the Captain of their saLmtlon, he is the leader of his people and be has conquered all of IIis and their enemies, and he AA’ill just as certainly bring them all safe home to glorj’’: “because I live, ye shall live also,” says the blessed Jesus, and what he says is faithful and true. But oh, my sister, here comes the struggle; am I His ? Am I dead to the law and alive to Christ ? Have I been washed and cleansed by His blood ; and do I know Avhat it is to folloAv Him in the regeneration ? Have I passed fi'om death unto life, is the greatest question which .search's the Christian’s heart. Above all things in the world he fears being de ceived, A true believer does not wish to rest or trust in any thing hut Christ, the eternal rock of ao^es ; this is the palladium of all his hopes. But these poor afflicted souls often go halting and stumbling by the way, feeling that they would give Avorlds if they possessed them, to knoAV thev AA'erc a child of grace, an heir of glory. 0, the conflict, it avcII nigh sinks the soul in ’Xlespair at times ; but how *often lie is cheered by the Avay, for Ids blessed guide knows his conflict, and he sends the blessed comforter to whisper SAveet words of consolation to Ids fainting spirit. “Pear not, I am Avith thee.” “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the Avoild.” First one and then an other precious promise will be applied, so that at times ids soul is made “like the chariots of Aminadab.’’ “Ho giveth poAver to the faint, and to them that have might he increaseth strength.” IIoiv rich and full are tliepro?mses of our heavenly Father. The volume of inspiration is full of them ; and how often are his dear children chided for their unbelief, and made to cry, I believe, help thou ray unbelief. Doubting Castle is a distressing place to be in ; I know something about it, for I have real ized something of the experience of Job, that my bread has been as ashes to m.e and my tears were my meat day and night. Y^ou, my dear Sister, have ex-^ press the very sentements of my soul, Avhen you said, “if I was certain I Avas a Christian, and that I obeyed implicitly the Avill of God concerning me, I feel that there is no power on earth that could deter, hinder or frighten me tribulations, trials, dis tresses of every kind would he a source of rejoicing, if I hnev) I s?{/’- fered for Christ's sake." Oh, what a priA'ilege ! Avhat a blessed privilege, this would be ! Time and again have I asked myself the question: Did you ever do> or suffer any thing pure ly for Christ’s sake ? I sometimes nearly give up all for lost, and my hope dwindles into vl very small th ina. But I can here testify once for all, that I have no hope at all only as it centres in the atoning Lamb, and if this fails me, all is lost and lost forever ; but blessed truth. He come to seek and save that which was lost, and if we are dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God, we are safe beyond the reach of harm, for when Christ A\dio is our life shall appear, we shall also appear with him in glory. This promise is sweet and dear: “Hereby ye shall know ye have passed from death unto life, because ye loA^e the brethren.”— How many times I have been led to bless God for this one blessed testi mony, for Avhen every other evidence has seemed to fail me, I have clungto this with an undying grasp, and even here the tempter has come in, and I hove questioned whether I truly pos sessed that love which unites, every heaven born soul. So the conflict is, all the way through. If the Christian had his rest here, he would not know how to prisie it in heaven; but Avhen his conflict wifii tlie Avorld, sin and-oYf'r». is al! over, the rest of the saints wil l be glorioa>, and they Avill Avalk the goldvsii stry ts of the Ncav Jerusuiera, ami rarige the fields of iramort, 1 bli.^^s, clothed hi the habiliments of imraortality, and AA'ill forever bathe their Avoary .souls in the ocejn of eternal love around the Avhite and dazzling throne of God and the Lamb. It seems to me that those happy myriads Avlil Avell nigh forget all their suflerings licre below. Can it be that such a wor Jdess worm as I ?an be bound to such immortal bliss? If I should reaL'h th'.s happy place, I will sing loudest of all th.* heavenly host Kr such Avoadrous love: “For I of al! thi; face. ihai. L-e, Of al! tie heaveiily ho.-it. Have greatest cause, with huuihle To love and praise Him most.'' 0, my Sister, the things of the kingdom arc so great and glorious 1 am Avoll nigh read/ to lay doAvn my pen, for I cannot begin to .say any thing, and it seems folly for ray attempt it, even Avhat my feeble mifnl seems to grasp, I cannol cornsuuai- cate. Wondrous things are to S>«a beheld in the laAv of God, aud the. stupendous plan of salvation devised for fallen man, is so great, WeR may the angels desire to look into the profound mysteiy, hut eternity alone will unfold the houndices love of God. Ages Avill loli on and stlli roll on, and its depths will not be fathomed. What influence more i»OAverftil eatv be exerted upon a believer to stimu- late him to love and good v orks, than the love of Jesus ? Our great Cap tain and leader has set ms an example that we should follow His steps, and Ave should be folioAvers of Him as dear children, and seek to obey implicitly His heavenly comtrands, and he ready to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and folloAv Him through evil as well as good la port. Wc are well assured, that the conflict Avill never end until mortal life shall cease, then the deliverance of every child of God AA'ill be triumphant utu:! glori ous. And until that bles.sed day arises, may AA^e be found Avith all hi.s dear people, with cur “ioiiis girt ;;bout with truth,” and liavifig oti the breast plate of rightcousnc.^K. Hoav beauti fully the apostle de.'-cribcs the c'mis- tian’a armor in Eph. sixth chapter. Many are the Avav-s and snares set to entrap and lead astray, utuI the ene mies of truth will most a.ssuredl y make an attack at the sfoe-J of the fiiHi
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 1, 1869, edition 1
4
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75