FOR THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. New York City, Dec. 25, 1840. (Sameul Allen Ebenzer Church NYC)

FOR THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

New York City, Dec. 25, 1840.

DEAR BROTHER BEEBE:—Various and diversified are the changes and scenes which the eye in common with all Adam’s posterity, is called to experience and endure, and if I were called on for a reason of my long silence, such would be the complication of its nature as would fully justify the course I have pursued. Your kind solicitations are not erased from my memory, and I hope to be indulged with health and mind, however poorly cultivated, to gather together a few more fragments out of God’s scripture book during the progress of the ensuing volume. O for the enlivening and enlightening rays of that Holy Spirit, whose great office it is to take of the things of Jesus and show them to his churches, that in this day of gross darkness, declension and obscurity, we may be led into all the truth which the Holy Ghost hath plainly revealed and foretold of these last and perilous times, in which there should be mockers, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. Jude i. 18.

I perceive that both the present volume and year are nearly at a close, methinks; what great obligations is the child of grace under, wherever he may be found on God’s footstool, in view not only of the numberless blessings which have crowned the year nearly expired, but also of the many bye-gone years of his short pilgrimage! Ah! where can I find the solitary disciple of Christ who, in view of past mercies and blessings bestowed so freely and abundantly, is not willing to trust in Jehovah’s faithfulness, and say with David of old, Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and when that is ended on earth, I will dwell in the house of the Lord, a house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens, and go no more out for ever. Psa. xxiii. 6; and 2 Cor. v. 1. But there are also seasons when we have to look a long way back, like ancient Israel, and remember all the way in which the Lord hath led us, and though the devil hates to see us thus employed, yet we are cheered and aided by the Holy Spirit of promise, who brings all things to our remembrance; the sweets as well as the bitters, and I have often thought they go best together; and so did Paul, for he declared that, “All things work together for good.” It is a great mistake when we conclude that the lamb would be far better without the bitter herbs, No, the wormwood and the gall, a sense of thy own vileness; thy law-condemned and self-condemned condition is just as needful for thee as a sense of pardoning grace, and justifying righteousness; and he that never felt his condemnation by the law of God, will never know the inexpressible efficacy of the blood that cleanses from all sin, and the righteousness which justifies the ungodly. These things are not cunningly devised fables; but God’s truth, and the experience of God’s children, and must terminate in God’s glory. John xiv. 26;—Exod. xii. 8; Rom. iv. 5.

I must however, (though reluctantly) leave these things for the present, and as I perceive you intend commencing the ix. volume, it may be necessary for me to say, that at present no subscriber has given any intimation to “Stop the paper,” and I could sincerely wish that this example might be followed by all subscribers,—not that I should advocate the publication of political subjects on the one hand, or letters or epistles calculated to irritate and create bitterness one against another, on the other hand; but contrariwise, if there is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you, let such an one show out of a good conversation, or communication, his works with meekness of wisdom,—all to the contrary is earthly, sensual, devilish. See James iii. 13, 15. To prevent the appearance of objections, he words and sentences, in a periodical of that nature, with such a diversity of subscribers and writers, must be readily admitted to be next to an impossibility; nevertheless, if at any time communications make their appearance which are contrary to the revealed word, the unalterable and only true standard for the government of the church, then it becomes the privilege of one or more (or at least I have thus supposed) to show wherein such an error exists, which if done in the spirit of the gospel might prove of incalculable benefit,—not only to the individual so erring, but to the Zion of God which are scattered abroad. My determination to be brief enjoins on me to close, which I would do in the form of

P. S. O:—begging to call your attention of subscribers in the city to the payment of any arrearages, which may be due, as also for the present volume which will in either case be placed to their credit.

I remain
Yours affectionately,
SAMUEL ALLEN.