A LIVING TESTIMONY

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 13, 1856

A LIVING TESTIMONY.

It is only a faith lived out that distinguishes the followers of truth from the world around them. God is purifying to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. But of what use is a theory confined to the head unless its influence is seen on the life of its possessor. Faith without works is dead. There is no particular cross in the mere possession of a theory. It is only when that theory leads us to act, and separate ourselves from the multitude, that we incur the displeasure of the world, and the scoffs of the wicked.

For instance, a man may profess to believe the truth of the soon coming of the Saviour, that the end of all things is at hand; but who will care for that, so long as he acts as though he was expecting a great while to come; so long as he continues absorbed in his worldly interests, and is heaping up treasures to himself, adding house to house, and land to land? A person's life never lies; and whatever he preaches by this, no amount of profession or precept will counteract; for "actions speak louder than words." But when he begins to live out this belief, when he is willing to let himself and his possessions be a consuming sacrifice upon the altar of the Lord, when he is active and energetic in warning his fellow-men of the wrath to come, and presents in all his actions an example consistent with his profession, there is a sensation at once in the ranks of the enemy.

The observance of the Sabbath furnishes another illustration. If we could, notwithstanding the seventh day is the Sabbath, reconcile with truth the observance of that day which the multitude regard, who would not be willing to adopt the theory? But when we see that truth requires us to come out from the multitude, and be separate, and devote that day to sacred rest which the world make the busiest one of all the seven, then comes the conflict; and whoever then acknowledges the seventh day to be the Sabbath, and acts according to his profession, at once becomes a living witness to the truth.

We see then the importance of living out the truths we profess. If we would make any impression on those around us, our precepts and practice must agree. Are we now having the last message of mercy? Is the end of all things just upon us? and are we the peculiar people God is purifying to himself? Whoever professes to believe this, let him not give it the lie by living as though he believed it not. The world should not have it to say of us, They preach one thing and practice another.