Earlier text: Papal InfallibilityPRESENT TRUTH AND PRESENT CONFLICTS:
By James White
Or, the Duties and Dangers of Our Time. SEVENTH-DAY Adventists are not timeists, in the sense of looking forward to some definite period for the second advent of Christ. They hold that all Scripture is profitable, and that the great periods of Daniel and John have served an important purpose in the plan of God. These periods constitute an important link in the harmonious chain. They are a part of that beautiful system of truth which has an especial bearing upon our time. These great periods have terminated, and we are brought to the waiting, watching time. There is, probably, no other text in all the Bible that so well expresses our position and duty in few words as Mark 13: 33: “Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is.” But the position of suspense is an unhappy one. Those who wait the return of their Lord in uncertainty as to the definite period of his second advent, are in great danger of becoming restless and impatient. Hence the application of certain texts to this time, and to the people who are waiting for their Lord. “Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Heb. 10: 36. “Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5: 8. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 12. In such a position, how natural the oft-repeated inquiry, “How long before the Lord will come?” But no definite answer can be given to the inquiry. And it is best that this question cannot be definitely answered. Throughout this entire period of the patience of the saints, the only safe position is to keep the coming of Christ ever before us, and regulate all our acts in full view of the terrible realities of the Judgment. To put off the coming of the Lord, and view that event in the distance, and enter into the spirit of the world, would be dangerous in the extreme. It is true that there are prophecies to be fulfilled just prior to the coming of the Lord; but their fulfillment is of such a nature that it can be realized in a short time. Unbelief may suggest that as the time has continued longer than the waiting ones expected, it may still continue many years. But saving faith takes the safe position, and views the event at the door. This fact should ever be borne in mind, that while we have no means of showing that the Lord will come at an immediate, definite point, no one can prove that he may not very soon come. And while it cannot be proved that the Lord will not very soon come, attention is called to the following facts which show that the second advent cannot be a distant event: 1. The three messages of Rev. 14 constitute a solemn warning to the world to prepare for the coming of Christ. The closing division of this great warning is a test to the world, and ripens the harvest of the earth. Those who receive the warning and prepare for the coming of the Lord, are ripened by it for immortality. Those who reject it, are ripened for the day of slaughter. 2. The warning given by Noah, the manner his message was treated, and the wrath of God in a flood of waters, illustrate the closing events of the present state of things. “As the days of Noah were, so also shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” God did not call this preacher of righteousness to warn next to the last generation before the flood, but the very last. The very generation which drank the waters of the flood, saw Noah build the ark, and heard his warning voice. How absurd the supposition that Noah built the ark and gave his warning message in the time of next to the last generation, so that those who heard his message, and saw his work, passed into the grave, and the ark went to decay, and their children came upon the stage of action to witness, unwarned, the terrors of the flood! 3. The last great warning was to be given to the last generation of men. The very ones who hear it, receive it, obey it, and are waiting for the Lord, will exclaim, as the Son of Man shall return with his angels down the blazing vault of heaven, “Lo! this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us.” And the very men who reject the warning, and justly merit the wrath of God, will also witness the second advent in flaming fire, with terror and anguish. This warning is not given to next to the last generation, but to the very last. Then, as certain as the great warning, illustrated by the three messages of Rev. 14, has been and is being given in our day, just so certain the generation that has heard the warning will witness the day of wrath, and the revelation of the Son of God from Heaven. One of two things is certain; either Seventh-day Adventists are wrong in the application of the messages, or Christ is very soon coming. If they are correct in their application of the great warning, then the very men who hear it will witness its terrible realities. “Verily I say unto you,” says Christ, “this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matt. 24: 34, 35. We do not believe that the word generation marks any definite number of years. The Lord designed to teach that the people who should live after the fulfillment of the last sign mentioned, (falling stars of 1833,) and should hear the proclamation of the coming of Christ, based upon the open prophecies of Daniel and John, and the fulfilled signs, should witness the scenes connected with his coming. God has raised up men to give the solemn warning to the world at the right time. The signs were fulfilled at the right time to give force to the warning. And the very generation of men that live after the three great signs are fulfilled, and who hear and reject the warning message, will drink the unmingled cup of the wrath of God. And those of this very generation who receive the message, suffer disappointment and endure the trials of the waiting position, will witness the coming of Christ, and exclaim, “Lo! this is our God, we have waited for him.” If watchful, and faithful to duty, we shall very soon enter the harbor of eternal rest. We should keep a good look-out, and not be deceived and overcome by the world, the flesh, and the devil. True faith forbids our looking into the future, and laying plans for the benefit of the next generation. It shuts us up to the present. But it is to be feared that those who are employing their physical and mental forces to accumulate wealth for their children, while they are neglecting their duty to the cause of present truth, and do not give themselves and families time to seek and serve God, are making a terrible mistake. They not only fail to help the cause, fail to walk with God, and fail to exert the best influence in their own families; but their influence, in professing so solemn and definite a position as that the present is the period for the third and last solemn warning, while in works they deny their faith, is decidedly against the cause. The world exhibits madness in grasping for wealth. A spirit of insanity has taken hold of men upon the subject of worldly gain. And many who profess present truth are more or less imbued with the same spirit. With those who do not fear God and keep his commandments, and are not looking for the soon coming of his Son, this is what might be expected. But with Seventh-day Adventists there is no excuse. With them it is insanity and madness. Why should they accumulate wealth for their children? Should the Lord remain away a thousand years, wealth handed down to them would be their almost-certain ruin. Look to the history of truly good and great men. Have they sprung up amid wealth? or have they come from families trained in the school of poverty and want? Read the history of the early life of Martin Luther, the great theologian and reformer, and that of Abraham Lincoln, the worthy statesman. Both were poor boys. But they both became great men, by facing want, grappling with poverty, and overcoming those obstacles ever lying in the path of want. Such a struggle in early life gave them experience, and was the safeguard of their purity. While the names of these good men are embalmed in the memory and affection of the people, those of hundreds, who received riches from their parents, have been forgotten, because money was in the way of their doing what they should have done, and being what they might have been. Setting aside the coming of the Lord, there is no more certain ruin to the children than for them to look to, and lean upon, their parents’ wealth. But what can be said of the influence of those parents who profess to believe that the last great warning to the world is being given, yet devote their entire energies to the accumulation of wealth for their children? What can be the influence upon their children? Is it not to lead them to love this world? to put off the coming of the Lord? to neglect the necessary preparation? Are not these parents taking a course directly to shut their children out of the kingdom of Heaven? And is there any hope of the salvation of either parents or children while pursuing such an inconsistent course? Without the faith of the soon coming of the Lord, they are pursuing a course to secure their ruin; with this faith, while taking a course to deny it in works, they are making that ruin certain. Our preachers should set the example in these things, or cease to preach the message. What an example to the flock, for a preacher of the last message, who has lost the strength of his manhood, to divide his property among his children, and then look to the treasury of the church to sustain him, they receiving in return the feeble labors of his time-worn energies! The aged minister who will do this, goes far, to say the least, in disqualifying himself to labor for others. If his children are able to earn a livelihood, how much more in harmony with the spirit of sacrifice which should be in the hearts of all the people of the Lord, for him to use his means for his own support, while he gives the feeble remnant of his life to the cause of God. Those ministers among us whose labors at best are feeble, and who divide their property largely with their worldly children, should touch the general treasury very lightly. They set a poor example to wealthy brethren, when they divide their property to their children, and then, for their labors in the cause, which apparently amount to next to nothing, are ready to receive a support from the general treasury. When all our preachers take a proper course in these things, then we can better appeal to wealthy brethren upon the subject. Of course we do not claim the right to dictate in these matters. But we feel it our duty to warn our people against making mistakes in the appropriation of their means. And we hope to touch this sensitive subject in a manner that will not give offense to any. We have two sons that are very dear to us. We have means to put into the cause, simply because we do not give it to our children. It will be the best for them in the end, to learn the value of property by earning it, rather than to receive it from their parents. During the past two years we have put fifteen-hundred dollars into the different branches of the cause, while at the same time we have not given our married son, who has gone from us, two hundred dollars. But we often meet with aged brethren, who in the division of their property, by will, or otherwise, give a thousand dollars, more or less, to each of their children, who already own a handsome property, and give only a very few hundreds, if anything, to the cause of God. This appears to us most inconsistent. We cannot view it otherwise than an unfaithful appropriation of their Lord’s money. In regard to wills, we would here state that we have two legally organized institutions, the Seventh-day Adventist189 Publishing Association, and the Health Reform Institute, which should receive the benefits of legacies from our people. These are both charitable institutions, and in their very nature and work, calculated to accomplish great good. We have space for only the following brief statements: 1. The law in reference to wills, differs somewhat in the different States, so that those who make wills had better obtain legal advice. Many wills are in some respects illegal and worthless. 2. Those who will property to our institutions, should will it direct, so that on the death of the testator the legacy may fall into the hands of our institutions. For example, a man who has five thousand dollars, wishes to make his wife secure, and still wishes to help our institutions. What shall he do? Shall he will this amount to his wife for her use during her lifetime, and, at her decease, to go to our institutions? No; not unless he thinks her support should be secured by that amount. But if a certain portion of the five thousand be sufficient, then let her have that portion in the will, as long as she may live, and let our institutions have the balance come direct to them, if that be the deliberate wish of the testator. 3. It may be highly proper that aged and feeble persons, who have but a limited amount of property, should make wills, and hold a certain amount of property in their hands as security of their support as long as they may live, and then, at their decease, to pass to charitable and religious objects. But we recommend to all those who really believe the positions of Seventh-day Adventists, who have means that they can spare without embarrassment, to appropriate that means now when it is needed, and while they are alive to see to the appropriation of it. One hundred dollars, ten years since, when friends were few, and means limited, were worth as much to the cause as one thousand dollars now. And if we may judge of the future by the past, should the work continue five years, one hundred dollars now, would then be worth only twenty dollars to the cause. If we are correct in this calculation, it is a sad mistake to hold on to surplus property now, with the idea of using it by-and-by for the cause. Brethren and sisters, beware of this device of Satan to keep means from the cause of truth. Let the Light Shine.
By Editor
Of the character of our numerous publications, of the interest awakening everywhere to read them, and of what they are doing to bring honest men and women to a knowledge of the truth, we have freely spoken in the REVIEW. It is evident to all those who understand the facts in the case, that we have the greatest encouragement to labor in this department of the work. We do not feel disposed to discuss the merits of the case any longer. We have the pleasure of meeting hundreds who have embraced the present truth within a few years past, simply from reading a few of our publications. And these persons give evidence of being true friends of the Lord, and of his truth. And as we witness this good work, we feel the importance of circulating our publications, as language cannot express. The present is the time to act. Who will turn colporteurs on their own expense? That is, who will purchase our books, pamphlets, and tracts, and go from house to house, talk and pray with the people, sell our publications when they can, and when they cannot sell them, give them to those who are worthy? Who among us have sufficient moral courage, firm principle, love for souls, and piety, to do this work? We are much pleased with the action of the church at Allegan, Mich., reported in the REVIEW by Bro. Littlejohn. And our brethren of the New-England Conference are getting on the track. See the doings of a recent meeting reported by Bro. Waggoner, in last week's REVIEW. Ten thousand dollars' worth of our books should be given before the close of 1871. Let all our churches get into working order. They should organize for the distribution of our publications. Many of our people are dying spiritually, for want of labor in the Lord's vineyard. Manual labor makes the muscles strong. Mental labor gives mental strength. And labor in spiritual things, makes one strong in God. It strengthens the faith, brightens the hope, and makes the spirits strong in the Lord. The fields are all white. Laborers are wanted. Consecrated laborers we must have. God give us laborers. Ministers whose hearts are imbued with the tenderest, deepest love for souls, are wanted. Men, women, and youth, who feel the force of present truth, are wanted to enter the whitening fields. Those who will sell, and give alms of heavenly light to those whose moral vision is dimmed by the mists of popular errors and fables, are wanted. Not one in four of our people have religion enough to circulate our tracts. Let those who take on a burden to circulate our publications, first get a burden to purchase them at the extremely low rates of sixteen hundred pages for one dollar, and then they will be more likely to feel a proper burden to circulate them judiciously and prayerfully. We do not ask men and women to circulate tracts as they would scatter corn to the chickens. Our publications should be handed out judiciously, where they are needed and wanted. “Cast not your pearls before swine.” Men and women are wanted in this work, who can form some idea of the difference between those properly represented by swine and goats, and those by sheep, lambs, and doves. Those who feel it a duty to sow this kind of seed broadcast, can sow all they please at their own expense. We will sell them tracts at the rate of sixteen hundred pages for one dollar. Let them sow away. It is true that at our camp-meetings, when the minds of the people are stirred on some important subject, we offer a tract on that subject, to all who will come to the stand for it. Many come. Some do not. This course tests the interest, and is right. If others, however, wish to sow broadcast, where there is no interest raised, we do not object, if they can afford to purchase their own seed. We heartily recommend organized action, in the circulation of our publications, by all our churches. And where this cannot be done, for want of numbers, let scattered brethren and sisters put forth individual effort. Friends of present truth, Let the light shine. All persons wishing books, pamphlets, and tracts, to give to their friends, can have them at this Office, at one-third discount from published prices. If ordered by mail, they will be furnished at one-third discount, and postage only added. Poor persons who wish our publications to read themselves, and to lend to their neighbors, can have them free, by sending with their orders a suitable amount to pay postage. Those who feel a burden to circulate our works, and have not the money to pay for them, will do well to ask the Lord to open the way for them to “buy the truth, and sell it not.” We are impressed that in most cases the Lord will lay the burden of circulating our publications upon those who have the money to pay for them. To those who are indebted to this Office for publications, we would here state, that bills of their indebtedness will be sent to them, as the secretary shall find time from other duties. With the present General Conference year, we design to close up all old book accounts. The first of April next, we shall commence a cash-in-hand business, at one-third discount on all our publications. Ministers, and all agents who shall have publications on hand just prior to the first of April next, can then close up their accounts by remittances of money, or by the return of publications at their own expense. We think the establishment of a general rule that all orders must be accompanied with the cash, at one-third discount, will be best for agents, and also for the Association. Do any object, and say that poor preachers may not have the ready cash, our reply is, that to all such worthy-poor preachers we will donate a large order to begin with; and then they will ever after have ready cash to send with orders. Let there be no failure on the part of those who are indebted to this Office for books, in closing up all accounts before the first of April next. There is due the Association for books alone, not less than $4,000; and we hope all will be ready to respond with cash on the receipt of bills. We are receiving letters from all parts of the country, of very stirring interest, relative to the influence of our publications upon the people. We have room for brief extracts only from some of them. The first is from a minister in Iowa, addressed to us Oct. 11, 1870. “KIND SIR: I ought long since to have acknowledged the receipt of a valuable present from your Association, by your hand, consisting of books, pamphlets, and papers. But the fact is, my time has been so completely occupied that I have procrastinated till now. Indeed, so strange are the positions you take, that I have thought several times that I would sit down and write you, to correct your errors and refute your arguments; but when I have taken up any work to refute it, I have been led to read a little more first; and by reading, have many times seen things in a new light.”},{ “I can now see how much of error has sprung from the pernicious doctrine of hereditary total depravity, and from the assumed immortality of Adam before the fall. If he were immortal then, what was the design of the tree of life?”},{ “I have not time now to give you my reasons in full; but I would translate the celebrated penal declaration of God to Adam thus: ‘From the day thou eatest thereof, thy death shall be sure.’ I feel able to sustain myself on this point.”},{ “On some points, I cannot agree with you yet,190 though I will not now pronounce you wrong; for the error may be in me. I am seeking truth, and determined to follow it, regardless of where it may lead; for it never can go wrong. “Accept my grateful thanks for your kind favors; and may God bless you, and lead you into all truth. “Your friend, E. SPOONER. “P. S. The REVIEW AND HERALD visits me regularly; and after reading it carefully, I send it forth to carry its teachings to other inquirers. “E. S.” The second is from Sr. Ashley, of Wisconsin, who has held the position of preacher in the Christian Conference. We met this lady at the Kilbourn City, Wisconsin Camp-meeting last July. She had, before coming to that meeting, read two or three of our small tracts. These awakened some interest, sufficient to induce her, by invitation of friends, to attend the camp-meeting. There she embraced the Sabbath. We there gave her a good supply of our books, pamphlets, and tracts, and have sent her the REVIEW. Her testimony will be read with interest. She addresses Mrs. W. and self, Oct. 3d, 1870, thus: “DEAR FRIENDS: After offering an apology for not writing sooner, I desire to tell you that I am enjoying myself in the investigation of the truth. After I returned from the camp-meeting at Kilbourn City, I attended the Christian Conference at home. I belonged to the Conference, and the brethren and sisters all rallied around me with such force, and presented portions of the Scriptures in such a manner, as to get me quite puzzled; and my mind was filled with doubts. I began to waver and halt between two opinions. I thought perhaps all my convictions were a delusion, and my friends were surely right. I went home with one of my sisters to stay a few days, but was hindered from returning sooner than a month; so I did not read much until I returned home; but almost continually my prayer ascended to Heaven that God would direct me, and take away the dark clouds, and once more shine upon his holy word, illuminating my mind, and making me to understand the truth. He heard me, he answered me. I returned home a full believer in present truth. Not a doubt has crossed my mind since. This was my trial of faith, I believe. I have been reading as much as I could ever since, to get all the truth, if possible, to make up the lost time.”},{ “I attended a meeting at Liberty Pole, also at Kickapoo Center, Vernon Co., and have just returned from a meeting at Sand Prairie, held by Bro. Sanborn. I am greatly strengthened, and built up on the most holy faith. I am striving to get nearer to the Lord, and to keep all his holy commandments. I have kept every Sabbath since I was at the camp-meeting, and must say that I have enjoyed peace of mind, and felt the sacredness of the day, and a holy obligation to keep it, that I never felt before in keeping Sunday.”},{ “I would say to Bro. White, I thank you very much for the publications you gave me, and also for the REVIEW. They have been my study, with the Bible, and are just what I needed. I hope some time to be able to repay you for your kindness. E. ASHLEY.” The third is relative to a family in Wisconsin, whose names we withhold. They will please excuse us for the liberty we have taken in quoting from their letter, on the ground that the facts are too good to be lost: “DEAR SIR: Excuse the liberty I have taken in writing, as I am a perfect stranger to you. I think it is necessary that I should introduce myself and family. My husband is a native of Switzerland; I am a native of France. My husband was converted in Switzerland, in the free will church, but was baptized and united with a close communion church in America. I myself was converted to God at the age of seventeen, and then united with the same church. I have been brought up from childhood to look for the soon coming of Christ. My parents believed that event would transpire in 1837, and did not give up hope when they were disappointed. We lived in the northern part of Pennsylvania during the movement of 1843, among the so-called Millerites. The coming of Christ was always a pleasant theme for me to meditate upon. It is now about three weeks since we have learned to understand the third angel’s message, and are now trying to keep the commandments, and the faith of Jesus. I will now tell you how this came about.”},{ “Bro. Hanson gave my husband a tract on the Sabbath. This he read, and was convinced that the so-called Christian Sabbath was not ordained by God. He then wished myself and eldest daughter to read the same; this we refused, as we thought the apostles had instituted the first day. My husband returned the tracts with little or no hope that he ever could convince us, though he himself seemed convinced. He then spoke on the subject frequently. I told my daughter that we must try and get Scripture proof to convince father that he was in an error; so we went diligently to work to find proof against what we thought an erroneous doctrine. But this we failed to find, and saw, to our astonishment, that the error was on our side. We did not long consult with flesh and blood, nor with the consequences of such a step. We now take it as a mercy that God considered us worthy to reveal his will unto us. I forgot to mention that my daughter was also a member of the Baptist church. I think they will exclude us.” A brother in Healdsburg, Cal., says: “I want to love Jesus more. The REVIEW is the best paper I ever read. I cannot do without it. It is a welcome visitor to my cottage; I love the third angel’s message; I love all the present truth. I love those precious tracts; they found me wandering, and brought me back. Thank the Lord.” We close the interesting subject of this department for this week, with the following valuable remarks from Eld. Cottrell: “I have read with deep interest the article from Bro. White in a recent paper under the above heading. This branch of our work is of great importance. And as I read the petitions, ‘May God help Bro. Andrews in the preparation of this important work,’ and ‘May God help in the completion of them,’ my heart responded an earnest Amen. And I pray in faith. I believe God will fulfill the petition. He has not forsaken the earth. He lives and reigns. He has a great work to do; and he inspires his servants to do it. And he will give the needed wisdom to his chosen servants, and to all who wholly consecrate themselves to his work.”},{ “To the questions propounded, I reply, I will be one of one thousand to make up the ten thousand dollars. For my past year’s labor in the cause, I received just $200. Sickness in my family during the year had increased my expenses, and diminished my time devoted to the work, and, consequently, the sum that I received. Out of this $200, I paid $15.60, s. d., besides some unsystematic. And now I will give five per cent or one twentieth part of the whole for this cause. I am not afraid that God will forsake those who trust in him, and consecrate all to his work.”},{ “I have learned somewhat of the value of our publications by using them. When I give a course of lectures, by their aid I can accomplish more than double the amount of good, in a given time, than I could by my poor preaching alone. It may be a benefit to tell how I use them. I take a package of one kind at a time, and at the close of the meeting, distribute them, one to each family who desires to read them. They can read a small tract before the next meeting. At the next, I give them another kind. While the subjects of my discourses are the prophecies and signs of the advent, I hand out such tracts as, Sufferings of Christ, Heavenly Meeting, Some Features of our Times, A Sign of the Day of God, Seven Seals, Sixteen Answers, &c., Millennium, and Second Advent. And when I come upon the law and Sabbath, I give out, Which Day Do You Keep, and Why? The Law and the Gospel, God’s Memorial, Who Changed the Sabbath? and so of the rest. These follow up the preaching, and make a deep and lasting impression. And I have found that if I cannot be a preacher, for want of quickness of thought and readiness of expression and eloquence, I can be a colporteur; and in this way, I am bound to labor, and hope to continue in the field till the work is done.”},{ “And now, brethren and sisters, I hope you will all feel that you have ‘a call to preach’ through our publications. We must engage in this work as never before. My prayer is that God will give me a part in the work till the time of resting is come. Pray for me.” Cattaraugus, N. Y.
By R. F. Cottrell
Our monthly meeting at East Otto was encouraging. The weather was fine throughout. There were good delegations from Randolph, Dayton, and Perrysburg, and one from Springville, Erie Co. There were upwards of twenty Sabbath-keepers present, and a good interest in the neighborhood to come out to hear. Bro. Reynolds was present, according to appointment, and the word was listened to with deep attention. Our social meetings were excellent. The work is evidently deepening in the hearts of the believers; and I am encouraged to hope that the cause will move forward in this region, which is a new field. I remain here at Otto a little longer, to help the believers, and labor for the conversion of the young that are striving to keep the commandments, but have not openly professed their faith in Christ. I am anxious to see them establish family and Sabbath worship before I leave them, so that the light which is kindled on this hill shall be kept burning. The opposition are aroused, and an attack was to have been made at long range last evening. An appointment was given out for a discourse in favor of Sunday, at the village, three miles and a half from here. We turned out to hear it, but were disappointed. Sickness of the expected speaker was the alleged cause. We were sorry, as it deprived us of the opportunity of distributing a bundle of tracts which we carried. The large congregation which we hoped to see there did not come out, for they had been informed that the speaker would not come. The tongue of slander is at work. Some, whom both the Baptists and Methodists had shown an eagerness to gain to their churches, being highly esteemed in the community as being of real worth and commanding influence, embraced the truth, and immediately rumor is busy with slanderous report to smut their character and kill their influence. But it recoils upon the heads of its inventors and propagators. “None of these things move me.” It is what we may expect. Those that are chosen out of the world, the world hates. So it was, and so it is. May God give wisdom to his servants, and speed his work. R. F. Cottrell.