p. 147 | THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, March 10, 1885.

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 10. Whole No. 1605.

THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

BY ELD. R. F. COTTRELL.

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” The apostle well knew the danger of the church. Fallen human nature is very easily beguiled from the simplicity of true religion as taught in the word of God. This is, and ever has been, the tendency of the human heart. In very ancient times, when men departed from the worship of the true and living God, they still would have a form of religion, but would have something more showy and attractive to the eye and outward senses. They planted their pleasant groves, set up their images, and had their ostentatious ceremonies. Vain show took the place of the simplicity of the humble worship of God as ordained by him, it being more in harmony with the instincts of the carnal mind.

And thus in the later dispensation the professedly Christian church, forsaking the simplicity that is in Christ, adopted the doctrines and ceremonies of the pagans, in order to have an influence and to have something more attractive to the heathen; and thus the church was corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ, and was filled up with the unconverted. The carnal mind had gained the ascendency, and this resulted in the persecution of those who still adhered to the simplicity of gospel truth. The same tendency is seen everywhere. Protestants or reformers start out to correct abuses and to vindicate some neglected and unpopular truth, and for awhile are humble and zealous, and as a consequence, they are persecuted by popular errorists; but as they grow in numbers and strength, they gradually decline from the simplicity which characterized them in the beginning, and, as bodies, become lifted up with pride, and fall into the condemnation of the Devil.

S. D. Adventists are not exempt from this tendency; for they are human. It is only by a constant warfare against worldliness, pride, and vanity, by watching and praying as our Saviour has warned and admonished us, that any will be kept from the delusive and subtle snares of Satan. In Christ is meek simplicity of deportment, of dress, and of personal adornment. How beautiful is this simplicity, in contrast with the vain customs and foolish fashions of the world. It is refreshing to meet with those who, by the simplicity of true godliness rebuke the vain show and unbecoming customs of the world,—it is refreshing as the oasis to the weary and thirsty traveler, over the burning sands of the desert. When one who loves the simplicity that is in Christ is permitted to see genuine samples of it, he may well thank God and take courage.

There will be overcomers in these last days, when most of those who profess to be the Lord’s have departed from Christian simplicity (if they ever knew anything about it). The knowledge of this may keep us from despair. Some will be found true to God. In their mouth will be found no guile. They will be without fault before the throne of God. Oh, to be one of that number, and to behold the whole family of the pure in heart, when they shall be gathered into their everlasting possession, and be forever with their Lord!