| 555 You know the reasons there better than I do; and you have received a speciman [specimen] of the English saints. Now if you have any counsel to give concerning the gathering, in addition to that already given, I shall be happy to receive it, and execute as far as opportunity offers. I shall not remain here long, it is true. But Br. Pratt is here, and I shall return here sometime if the Lord will.
I must now close by saying for one and all, God bless Zion forever and ever.
Your brother in Christ.
Orson Hyde.
To the Editor of the Times and Seasons:
Dear Sir:-
If you think the contents of this sheet worthy of a place in your excellent publication, its insertion will greatly oblige yours in the covenent [covenant].
F. Moon.
From the short history of Lot, we may learn many important things: he is brought before us as an herdsman with Abraham, and certain difficulties, arising, they determined upon a separation. And although Abraham was his uncle, yet he gave him the choice of going either to the East or West. And Lot went and dwelt in Sodom. Let us notice his love of earthly things. "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordon, that it was well watered every where-even as the garden of the Lord-and lot chose him all the plain of Jordon and he went and dwelt in Sodom." In this choice religious privileges and those things which concern the soul, that are of eternal moment were never calculated upon. And in about nineteen years he was visited by angels bearing a message of distruction [destruction] for Sodom and the neigboring [neighboring] cities. Now let us, who have come from the east, west, north and south, not imitate the conduct of Lot; and although there may be apparent difficulties, and a lack of this, and that, which would be pleasing to the flesh: yet let us compare our advantages if we were not here; and never attempt to join the world, at the risk of losing our soul. But here an objector may arise and say "I could go to such and such a place, and get all that heart could desire, and love for God too." I admit the possibility, but it is not so probable that this would be the case; but supposing it should, where would be the benefit if in a few years, when you have increased your goods, a messenger should be sent to sound in your ears these alarming words, "escape for thy life, look not behind thee neither stay thou in all the plain." Could you without confering [conferring] with flesh and blood, forsake all, or with the anxiety and disobedience of a Lot's wife, look back, and thus exhibit the awful consequences of transgression.
The Lord has commanded his people to gather, and though there may be troubles, yet if it is according to the law of heaven, it ought to be attended to without a murmur; and it is far better with us, than it was with the children of Israel, for they had not water: and many more things they complained of, and they said "would to God we had stayed in Egypt, or died when our brethren died"-and they said to Moses and Aaron, "why have ye brought us" &c., [Numb. 20. 2-5.] But an inspired writer has a different view of this subject, "and thou shalt remember" says he, "all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whither thou wouldest keep his commandments or no." What I mean to say is this, that we ought to live where we can enjoy most of the blessings of heaven, and receive the greatest knowledge of the things of God, hanging upon this promise, "seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you",-for what is time when compared with eternity! and what is this world when compared with that which is to come!
Let us look again at Lot, and notice his disrespect to the commandments of God. In the morning he was commanded to take his family that was with him, and first he began to linger, but the angels laid hold of him and got him without the city, and gave him a command; the latter part of which he objected to, and says that God asked impossibilities at his hands. The Lord told him to go the mouatain [mountain] that he might live; he says "I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me and I die: Behold now this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh! let me escape thither, and my soul shall live!" The face of this seems to be , 'let me do as I please, and then I shall be comfortable; but if I do as you have commanded me, I see danger;' from this we
(page 555) |
