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THE BEREANS

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 5, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 21.

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THE BEREANS.

By Roswell Fenner Cottrell

Of the Bereans it is recorded, “These were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed.”
A message came to the Bereans, purporting to be from the Author of the sacred Scriptures. They took the right course to ascertain its truth.
1. They received the word with all readiness of mind. They did not drink it down without any evidence of its truth; but they were willing to hear, and willing that it should be the truth, if it really was. Prejudice did not prevent them from entertaining the message long enough to decide upon its truthfulness.
2. They searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so. They went directly and daily to the great detector, to ascertain the truth of the message. That would settle the matter. If it was in harmony with the written word and promises of God, they could ascertain it for themselves.
3. Therefore many of them believed. Having taken the right promises, they came to the right conclusion.
Their course was perfectly reasonable, and their reasoning logical. All would do well to follow their example. It would lead to the truth with unerring certainty. It could not fail. When a message comes claiming to be founded upon the promises of the Bible, do not cast it away immediately. Look at it long enough to test it by what is written. If it is in harmony with the morality of God’s word, and is a fulfillment of what he has promised, believe it. There is no danger in receiving it. You will not be deceived. Follow this course fully, and you are sure to arrive at the truth.
But the course generally pursued is directly the opposite.
1. People are not willing to hear, or, if they hear, it is with resisting prejudice.
2. The Scriptures are searched, if searched at all, not to ascertain whether the message is truth, but to find something against it. And, if nothing can there be found that militates against it, an appeal is made to the opinions of men.
3. The consequence is, they do not believe. Having eyes, they see not; and having ears, they hear not; and all, because they are unwilling that the truth should be the truth.
Oh! that there were more men and women like those of Berea! It is truly refreshing to find such ones. The great scarcity of such persons renders the few that are found, like fertile spots and springs of water in the desert.
Oh! that all, and especially all who profess to love God and the Bible, would hear with readiness of mind the third and last merciful warning, and be guided by the Scriptures in regard to its truth. But they will not. Though the number professing to be the Israel of God were as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved. And why? Because they take a course directly opposite to that of the noble Bereans. This message is in perfect harmony with the written revelation; nay, God, who cannot lie, has promised it in his sacred word, but men cannot see it. The spirit of slumber is upon them, and their ears are dull of hearing. But the word of God is true; it cannot fail.
R. F. COTTRELL.