August 13

Only a remnant will embrace the Gospel. If it were put to a vote, would not thousands carry the decision to get rid of Christ and His Gospel? History itself prophesies the future of such great odds. Each time God had withdrawn from a people, there have been a few holy ones mingled among the ungodly. Sardis, for example, has several names which had not "defiled their garments," but the candlestick was removed nevertheless. All they had was a promise for themselves-- "They shall walk with me in white"-- but no protection was pledged for the whole church (Revelation 3:4). God can pull down a house and at the same time provide saftety for His saints whom He finds inside.

A few voices are easily drowned in the screams of a crowd and a dozen cups of wine are hardly tasted in a whole cask. Thus a remnant of Christianity sometimes can do little to save the wretched millions of unbelievers surrounding them. When disease controls a weakened body, nature tries with her utmost strength but cannot heal the sickness-- perhaps her best efforts will only prolong life for a while. So then a few saints, shut up in a wicked age of Christ-despising men, may gain a reprieve from judgment. But if the unbelievers themselves do not choose to change, ruin inevitably will break in on them.

Most of Christendom is made up of old disciples, not new converts. The womb of the Gospel has been shup up from bringing forth souls in a solid work of conversion. Of course, if you count those who baptize themselves into new religious feelings with good intentions and wholesome opinions, there are plenty of "Christians." But in this age of withering professions of faith and an even weaker practice of holiness, it is hard to find a real convert!

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