1841 William Miller Evidence from Scripture & History - A2Z.org

CHRIST'S SECOW COMIRG. 135
8th verse, 'I And unto the angel of the cliurch in
Smyrna, write." The signification of the word Srnyrna,
IS myrrh ; denoting that the church in this age would be
a sweet-smelling savor to God, while she was passing
through the fiery ordeal of persecution and affliction,
which always has served to weed out those obnoxious
plantv of pride, popularity, self-dependence -the bane
and poison of true faith, piety, and devotion. And 0,
my brethren, could we learn wisdom, by what the church
has already suffered in the days of our forefathers, we
should be more humble, the more worldly peace and
prosperity we enjoyed. For it is only in the midst of
persecution and trial, that the church manifest great purity
of doctrine or life. How well, then, might this age
of the church be compared to myrrh, when she must
have been separated from worldly honors, avarice, pride,
popularity, and hypocrisy, when the hypocrite and worldhg
had no motives to unite with and destroy the union
of the brotherhood, and when the hireling shepherd could
expect no fleece, that would suit his cupidity, to filch
from the lambs of Christ! "These thinm saith the first
and the last, which waa dead and is &ve." 1n theso
words we learn the character speaking to the church. '
It is no less than the mighty God, the everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace. '' I know th works, and tribulation,
and poverty." Now, their worL were about to
be tried ; althoumh God knew them that were his, yet Ile
designed to maGfest to a world who would bo falthful
even unto death, and to show that pure and undefiled religion
would bum with a brighter flame in tribulation
and poverty, and the richness of that faith, which would
bring off the true Christian conqueror over the powers
of the world, the temptations of Satan, and corruptions
of the flesh. "But thou art rich" Yes, brethren, the
true and genuine Christian is rid. For charity can suffer
long in tribulation, and the spirit of Christ will make
us forsake all for his sake, and endure poverty for the
name of Jesus. " And I know," says Christ, "the blasphemy
of them which say they are Jews, (that is, people
of God,) and nre not, but are the synagogue of Satan."
Altho~~gh Chr& knew the hypocrites and false profa-