-CT- The Mysteries of the Bible a Proof of
its Inspiration
-PR- 01
-PG- 711
-TEXT-
The evils that have been gradually creeping in among us have
imperceptibly led individuals and churches away from reverence for God, and
have shut away the power which He desires to give them.
My
brethren, let the word of God stand just as it is. Let not human wisdom presume
to lessen the force of one statement of the Scriptures. The solemn denunciation
in the Revelation should warn us against taking such ground. In the name of my
Master I bid you: "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place
whereon thou standest is holy ground."
A
great crisis awaits the people of God. A crisis awaits the world. The most
momentous struggle of all the ages is just before us. Events which for more
than forty years we have upon the authority of the prophetic word declared to
be impending are now taking place before our eyes. Already the question of an
amendment to the Constitution restricting liberty of conscience has been urged
upon the legislators of the nation. The question of enforcing Sunday observance
has become one of national interest and importance. We well know what the
result of this movement will be. But are we ready for the issue? Have we faithfully
discharged the duty which God has committed to us of giving the people warning
of the danger before them?
There are many, even of those engaged in this movement for Sunday
enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this action. They
do not see that they are striking directly against religious liberty. There are
many who have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath and the false
foundation upon which the Sunday institution rests. Any movement in favor of
religious legislation is really an act of concession to the papacy, which for
so many ages has 5T
712 - steadily warred against
liberty of conscience. Sunday observance owes its existence as a so-called
Christian institution to "the mystery of iniquity;" and its
enforcement will be a virtual recognition of the principles which are the very
cornerstone of Romanism. When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its
government as to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands
with popery; it will be nothing else than giving life to the tyranny which has
long been eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into active
despotism.
The
National Reform movement, exercising the power of religious legislation, will,
when fully developed, manifest the same intolerance and oppression that have
prevailed in past ages. Human councils then assumed the prerogatives of Deity,
crushing under their despotic power liberty of conscience; and imprisonment,
exile, and death followed for those who opposed their dictates. If popery or
its principles shall again be legislated into power, the fires of persecution
will be rekindled against those who will not sacrifice conscience and the truth
in deference to popular errors. This evil is on the point of realization.
When
God has given us light showing the dangers before us, how can we stand clear in
His sight if we neglect to put forth every effort in our power to bring it
before the people? Can we be content to leave them to meet this momentous issue
unwarned?
There
is a prospect before us of a continued struggle, at the risk of imprisonment,
loss of property, and even of life itself, to defend the law of God, which is
made void by the laws of men. In this situation worldly policy will urge an
outward compliance with the laws of the land, for the sake of peace and
harmony. And there are some who will even urge such a course from the
Scripture: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. . . . The
powers that be are ordained of God."
5T 713 -
But
what has been the course of God's servants in ages past? When the disciples
preached Christ and Him crucified, after His resurrection, the authorities
commanded them not to speak any more nor to teach in the name of Jesus.
"But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in
the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we
cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." They continued
to preach the good news of salvation through Christ, and the power of God
witnessed to the message. The sick were healed, and thousands were added to the
church. "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him,
(which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and
laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."
But the God of heaven, the mighty Ruler of the universe, took this
matter into His own hands; for men were warring against His work. He showed
them plainly that there is a ruler above man, whose authority must be
respected. The Lord sent His angel by night to open the prison doors, and he
brought forth these men whom God had commissioned to do His work. The rulers
said, Speak not "at all nor teach in the name of Jesus;" but the
heavenly messenger sent by God said, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to
the people all the words of this life."
Those who seek to compel men to observe an institution of the papacy,
and trample upon God's authority, are doing a work similar to that of the
Jewish leaders in the days of the apostles. When the laws of earthly rulers are
brought into opposition to the laws of the Supreme Ruler of the universe, then
those who are God's loyal subjects will be true to Him.
We
as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed to us. We
are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the Sunday law will
bring us. It is our duty, as we see the signs of approaching peril, to arouse
to action. Let none sit in calm expectation of the evil, 5T 714 - comforting themselves with the belief that
this work must go on because prophecy has foretold it, and that the Lord will
shelter His people. We are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude,
doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer
should be ascending to heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can
accomplish the work which has so long been neglected. Let there be most earnest
prayer, and then let us work in harmony with our prayers. It may appear that
Satan is triumphant and that truth is overborne with falsehood and error; the
people over whom God has spread His shield, and the country which has been an
asylum for the conscience-oppressed servants of God and defenders of His truth,
may be placed in jeopardy. But God would have us recall His dealings with His
people in the past to save them from their enemies. He has always chosen
extremities, when there seemed no possible chance for deliverance from Satan's
workings, for the manifestation of His power. Man's necessity is God's
opportunity. It may be that a respite may yet be granted for God's people to
awake and let their light shine. If the presence of ten righteous persons would
have saved the wicked cities of the plain, is it not possible that God will
yet, in answer to the prayers of His people, hold in check the workings of
those who are making void His law? Shall we not humble our hearts greatly
before God, flee to the mercy seat, and plead with Him to reveal His mighty
power?
If
our people continue in the listless attitude in which they have been, God
cannot pour upon them His Spirit. They are unprepared to co-operate with Him.
They are not awake to the situation and do not realize the threatened danger.
They should feel now, as never before, their need of vigilance and concerted
action.
The
peculiar work of the third angel has not been seen in its importance. God meant
that His people should be far 5T 715 - in advance
of the position which they occupy today. But now, when the time has come for
them to spring into action, they have the preparation to make. When the
National Reformers began to urge measures to restrict religious liberty, our
leading men should have been alive to the situation and should have labored
earnestly to counteract these efforts. It is not in the order of God that light
has been kept from our people--the very present truth which they needed for
this time. Not all our ministers who are giving the third angel's message
really understand what constitutes that message. The National Reform movement
has been regarded by some as of so little importance that they have not thought
it necessary to give much attention to it and have even felt that in so doing
they would be giving time to questions distinct from the third angel's message.
May the Lord forgive our brethren for thus interpreting the very message for
this time.
The
people need to be aroused in regard to the dangers of the present time. The
watchmen are asleep. We are years behind. Let the chief watchmen feel the
urgent necessity of taking heed to themselves, lest they lose the opportunities
given them to see the dangers.
If
the leading men in our conferences do not now accept the message sent them by
God, and fall into line for action, the churches will suffer great loss. When
the watchman, seeing the sword coming, gives the trumpet a certain sound, the
people along the line will echo the warning, and all will have opportunity to
make ready for the conflict. But too often the leader has stood hesitating,
seeming to say: "Let us not be in too great haste. There may be a mistake.
We must be careful not to raise a false alarm." The very hesitancy and
uncertainty on his part is crying: "'Peace and safety.' Do not get
excited. Be not alarmed. There is a great deal more made of this religious
amendment question than is demanded. This agitation will all die down."
Thus he virtually denies the 5T 716 - message
sent from God, and the warning which was designed to stir the churches fails to
do its work. The trumpet of the watchman gives no certain sound, and the people
do not prepare for the battle. Let the watchman beware lest, through his
hesitancy and delay, souls shall be left to perish, and their blood shall be
required at his hand.
We
have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our land; and, now
that the movement is right upon us, we ask: Will our people do their duty in
the matter? Can we not assist in lifting the standard and in calling to the
front those who have a regard for their religious rights and privileges? The
time is fast approaching when those who choose to obey God rather than man will
be made to feel the hand of oppression. Shall we then dishonor God by keeping
silent while His holy commandments are trodden underfoot?
While the Protestant world is by her attitude making concessions to
Rome, let us arouse to comprehend the situation and view the contest before us
in its true bearings. Let the watchmen now lift up their voice and give the
message which is present truth for this time. Let us show the people where we
are in prophetic history and seek to arouse the spirit of true Protestantism,
awaking the world to a sense of the value of the privileges of religious
liberty so long enjoyed.
God
calls upon us to awake, for the end is near. Every passing hour is one of
activity in the heavenly courts to make ready a people upon the earth to act a
part in the great scenes that are soon to open upon us. These passing moments,
that seem of so little value to us, are weighty with eternal interests. They
are molding the destiny of souls for everlasting life or eternal death. The
words we utter today in the ears of the people, the works we are doing, the
spirit of the message we are bearing, will be a savor of life unto life or of
death unto death.
My
brethren, do you realize that your own salvation, as 5T 717 - well as the destiny of other souls, depends
upon the preparation you now make for the trial before us? Have you that
intensity of zeal, that piety and devotion, which will enable you to stand when
opposition shall be brought against you? If God has ever spoken by me, the time
will come when you will be brought before councils, and every position of truth
which you hold will be severely criticized. The time that so many are now
allowing to go to waste should be devoted to the charge that God has given us
of preparing for the approaching crisis. The law of God should be loved and
honored by His true people now more than ever before. There is the most
imperative necessity of urging the injunction of Christ upon the minds and
hearts of all believers, men and women, youth and children: "Search the
Scriptures." Study your Bible as you have never studied it before. Unless
you arise to a higher, holier state in your religious life, you will not be
ready for the appearing of our Lord. As great light has been given, God expects
corresponding zeal, faithfulness, and devotion on the part of His people. There
must be more spirituality, a deeper consecration to God, and a zeal in His work
that has never yet been reached. Much time should be spent in prayer, that our
garments of character may be washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.
Especially should we, with unwavering faith, seek God for grace
and power to be given to His people now. We do not believe that the time has
fully come when He would have our liberties restricted. The prophet saw
"four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four
winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea,
nor on any tree." Another angel, ascending from the east, cried to them,
saying: "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have
sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." This points out the
work we have now to do. A vast responsibility is devolving upon men and 5T 718 - women of prayer throughout the land to
petition that God will sweep back the cloud of evil and give a few more years
of grace in which to work for the Master. Let us cry to God that the angels may
hold the four winds until missionaries shall be sent to all parts of the world
and shall proclaim the warning against disobeying the law of Jehovah.
God
employs various agencies in preparing His people to stand in the great crisis
before us. He speaks by His word and by His ministers. He arouses the watchmen
and sends them forth with messages of warning, of reproof, and of instruction,
that the people may be enlightened. The <SI Sentinel <EI has been in
God's order, one of the voices sounding the alarm, that the people might hear
and realize their danger and do the work required at the present time. The Lord
intends that His people shall heed whatever He sends them. When light is
presented, it is their duty, not only to receive it, but to pass it along,
adding their influence in its favor, that its full force may be felt in the
church and the world. The <SI Sentinel <EI is like a trumpet giving a
certain sound; and all our people should read it carefully and then send it to
some relative or friend, thus putting to the best use the light that God has
given them.
For
three years, warnings have been sounding forth to the world through the columns
of the <SI Sentinel; <EI but those who profess to believe present truth
have not been influenced by these danger signals as they should have been. Had
our brethren used the <SI Sentinel <EI as it was their privilege to do;
and had all been united in recommending it in every conference and in every
church, as God would have them do; had the attention of our people been called
to this work, which was so essential to be done for this time; had they
appreciated the light which God permitted to shine upon them in warnings, in
counsels, and in the delineation of events that are taking place, we should not
now, as a people, be so far behind in making preparation for the work. There have
been surprising indifference and inactivity in this time of peril. Truth,
present truth, is what the people need; and if the startling significance of
the movements now in progress in regard to the religious amendments had been
realized by our brethren in every church; if they had discerned in these
movements the plain, direct fulfillment of prophecy, calling upon them to
arouse to the demands of the crisis, they would not now be in such stupor and
deathlike slumber.