p. 74 | Report from Bro. White by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 22, 1867

Report from Bro. White.

By James White

(Continued from last week.)

Our last report was from meetings held in this place, Dec. 22nd and 23d. Mrs. W. spoke to the people the following Tuesday and Friday evenings. The meetings lost none of their interest.

Sabbath and first-day, Dec. 29 and 30, were days of importance and interest to this church. In the morning we opened the meeting and spoke thirty minutes, taking as a sort of a text the universal salutation, “How do you do?” We stated that if sin and sickness had never entered our world, this brief interrogation would not have come into common use; that it showed that a condition of health was of the first importance, as this was the first inquiry when friend met with friend; and that people in health, generally, did not prize the great blessing until they lost it. We then referred to our own state of health; that the great reason of our affliction in this respect was because we had not the opportunity of learning in season what people might, and should now learn. Referring to our past course, we stated that we had been nearly right upon the questions of diet, air, and use of water; but what had gradually brought us from great strength to a condition preparatory to our last sickness, had been overwork, and of robbing ourselves of suitable rest and sleep; that editing, preaching, and at the same time traveling extensively about half of our time, and having almost the entire charge of a large business at the Office by means of correspondence, and, added to this, the care of the general financiering for the cause, and the perplexities and trials of the front of the great battle for Present Truth; that these labors had, generally, severely taxed our physical and mental strength, for fifteen to eighteen hours out of the twenty-four. We had no periods of rest, not even on the Sabbath, as we had generally preached twice on that day when at home, and three times when from home.

We have robbed ourselves of suitable rest and sleep by riding upon the cars nights, and being held by those long evening church-meetings. For the first ten years of our editorial life, our editorials generally had been written in the night between the hours of eight and twelve. Our manner of labor was, when at home, to spend the day in the general business and labor of the Office, and the reading of proof-sheet; then write our editorials. The numerous small works we have written, were written in the night when we should have been asleep. When from home, our labor has been still worse, and our privations of rest still more murderous; as it was quite common for us to preach three times on the Sabbath, and the same on first-day; then, in a wearied condition, spend the time until midnight answering letters, preparing copy for the printer, which had been sent to us by mail, and in writing reports and articles for the paper. In one instance we spoke four times on first-day; commencing at nine o’clock in the morning, we transacted business for the Office with probably one hundred persons, selling books from a penny tract up to the donation of ten dollars, to the amount of three hundred dollars.

We appealed to the brethren to take warning from our mistakes, and their results, and in season seek to be right on all points. We expressed our gratitude to God for strength to once more speak to this dear people. We are happy to say, that we enjoy their fullest sympathy, and while our mouth is opened anew to speak to them, their ears are opened to hear.

Mrs. W. then followed for an hour, addressing parents upon bringing up their children in reference to their happiness and health in this life, as being necessary to secure the life to come. She pointed out many defects in parental government, which made their children physical and spiritual dwarfs; and that while they should diligently teach them the ways of life and salvation, and lead them away from the spirit of the world, they should also give strict attention to their health and happiness; and that they should choose their associates and amusements for them, lest they choose for themselves, and run to speedy ruin; and that the perpetual monotony of work, work, work, and no diversion for their children, was a sad mistake.

In the afternoon, Mrs. W. addressed the young for one hour and a half, showing their duties to their parents and their God. She spoke of the fifth commandment, which is addressed to children, and referred to the Apostle’s statement that it was the first with promise. Precious promise! “That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

Not upon the land where all creation groans with the curse, but the promise reaches to the New Earth, and to a life, long as the ceaseless rounds of eternal ages, where all will be purity, health, and happiness.

On first-day morning we opened the meeting as usual, and spoke one hour from the words of the Apostle:

“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore, the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. i, 1–11.

We dwelt particularly upon the subject of temperance: showing the people,

That the apostle was addressing those who had just received the faith of the gospel, and not experienced Christians.
That they were to add grace unto grace, until they reached spiritual manhood, and a fitness for the kingdom of God.
That this was accomplished by doing the things mentioned.
That there was perfection in the order in which the things to be done were stated.
That to ascend in this course of action was the sure way to holiness, to be sure never to fall, and to secure an abundant entrance into the kingdom.

We stated that it was the first business of those who received the faith of the gospel to seek for holiness of life, before appearing to be very knowing. Hence, the Apostle says, “Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge.” It is impossible for an intemperate man to be patient; hence, he says, “add to temperance, patience.” Here we dwelt upon the impatience of parents to children, husband to wife, and wife to husband, children to parents, and of neighbor to neighbor, as being the result of intemperance. Coming to the church of God, we stated that nine tenths of the church trials are the result of impatience, and generally

arise from the conduct of nervous dyspeptics, who, in consequence of intemperance, have not only diseased bodies, but diseased imaginations, regarding their very best friends, those who would do all in their power to help them, as their enemies, seeking to oppress, slight, and injure them. We stated that the two following graces, namely, godliness and brotherly kindness, were simply two great principles of the ten commandments; godliness being taught by the first four commandments, which show us our duty to our Creator, and brotherly kindness, secured by the last six, which show us our duty to our neighbor or brother. No man can possess these two principles, and really keep the ten commandments, unless he possesses patience, which follows temperance.

Then, before a man can keep the holy law of God, he must overcome intemperance, and become truly patient. Of such it may be said, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

Charity, the last, and crowning grace, is then added. Scholars say this word, in most cases, should be translated, love. What a victory! Perfect love to God and man! “This is the love of God that we keep his commandments.” Perfect love must commence here. It is the Christian’s crowning grace here, and will be his crowning glory in the everlasting kingdom of God. With this the words of another apostle sweetly accord: “Faith, hope, and charity (or love), these three, but the greatest of these is charity.” Why is love the greatest, or highest? Because faith, in the next life, will be lost in sight; hope will be lost in the enjoyment of that for which we here hope; but love, which must be perfected here among thorns, will continue and crown the glory of immortality.

We stated to the people that we stood in doubt concerning that sanctification which consisted only in flights of feeling, and left doing out of the question. Men have been blest when they have lived up to all the light they had. They were safe only in doing this. We are safe only in living up to all the light we have.

Mrs. W. then followed upon the same subject with great freedom. The congregation was very large, and never more attentive. One brother who has to travel the path of truth alone, as far as his family is concerned, (may God bless him!) said that he would give one of his fine horses to have had his wife present, to hear for herself.

Mrs. W. spoke the next Tuesday and Friday evenings.

Sabbath, Jan. 5th, we opened the meeting at the usual hour with a full congregation, and spoke one hour from the words, “Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.” 1 Cor. x, 31, 32. Man was made for the glory of his Maker. He has fallen, but Christ has become his sacrifice and mediator, to raise him to a condition where he can again glorify God. It is the duty of those who are being thus elevated, to do all in their power for the glory of God. In the first of Genesis, we see man by the tree of life, the noblest, and the very glory of creation; and in the last chapter of the Bible, we again see him by the tree of life in the glory of redemption. When God led Adam and Eve to the tree of life, if they had seen upon this limb a leg of bacon, and here and there hanging quarters of beef, sides of pork, carcasses of sheep, strings of sausages, tripe, chickens, geese, and ducks; if they had seen lying at the trunk of the tree by the pure river of the water of life, clams, oysters, lobsters, eels, tobacco, snuff, tea, coffee, the saddle bags of the allopathic physician, sending forth their odors, and the little homeopathic case of sugar pellets saturated with the most deadly poisons, one of which is taken from beneath the rattle snake’s tongue—alas! what amazement would have seized them! When God said to them, “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat,” what perplexity would there have been about these eatables of later use. These have been introduced to gratify appetite, and not for the glory of God. Those who would glorify God in their bodies and spirits which are his, and stand by the tree of life and enjoy its twelve kinds of fruit, new thirteen times every year, will put these things aside.

No man ever drank whisky for the glory of God, but only to gratify his selfish appetite. Should he offer it to his horse he would snort at it; his cow would shake her horns at it. There are but three animals in the world that can be made to love it; man, the bear, and the swine. There is but one animal that can be made to love tobacco, and that is man. The hog cannot love it. In this respect man may look up to the swine as his superior. But the question is raised, “Is it right to keep swine and sell them to Gentiles?” We might inquire, Is it right for Sabbath-keepers to raise tobacco, hops, barley, and corn, out of which whiskey is manufactured? Some of our brethren have become rich in growing these things. These are rather nice questions, and should be handled carefully. We have seen those of antislavery principles so conscientious, and we would regard them highly for their antislavery conscientiousness, who would not wear cotton cloth, because the cotton was raised by slave labor, yet every morning they would read from a cotton Bible. Questions may also arise relative to believers keeping large dairies, where from twenty to one hundred cows must be milked on Sabbath morning; co-partnerships with unbelievers in mills, shops, and stores, where the mill is kept running, and the business of the shop and store is continued seven days in a week. We regard these last, beginning with dairy, as a violation of the fourth commandment, and the others, also, as really objectionable; yet we are not prepared to condemn the first. Why may not the economical farmer furnish a few swine for the market. They may be eaten by those who will have their flesh to eat, or their grease may be used to oil the car wheels which run upon our railroads. The farmer may take his corn and barley to market, to be used as articles of healthful food, or converted into whisky for the use of those who will have it. But what shall we say of these wide fields of tobacco and hops? We certainly have no apology for tobacco raising, and it is well known that nine hundred and ninety-nine one thousandths of the hops raised in our country are used in the grossest drunkenness. We would exhort those who would do all to the glory of God, to seek for that business for a livelihood which would never infringe upon the Sabbath, and which would be in harmony with their sentiments of reform. But what shall that godly woman do, whose unbelieving husband commands her to cook swine’s flesh? So we might inquire what should she do, should he command her to bring him the bottle of whisky? We think that she should obey in both instances. Does not the Word say, “Cursed is he that putteth the bottle to his neighbor’s lips?” It does, but this is a free act, and a similar curse would fall upon the woman should she, as a free act to please her husband, furnish her table with swine’s flesh.

We also stated on this occasion that some brethren failed to glorify God on the usury question. Usury we understand to be pay for the use of money, whether it be lawful or unlawful interest. We took the position that it was wrong to take usury from a poor brother, while it was right to take it from the wealthy. To the law and to the testimony: “If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an insurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.” Ex. xxii, 25. If it be wrong to take usury of every one, why is the wrong in this case restricted to the poor man? This is evidence of itself that it is right to take interest in some cases. We gave an illustration which occurred in our own experience: A widow sold her property in the state of New York, for about fifteen hundred dollars, and with five hundred, purchased herself a home in Battle Creek, and let us have the remainder of her money at ten per cent. In using this money at the Office, it was worth to us forty per cent., as we could turn it into stock four times a year at a profit each time of ten per cent. This was sufficient, added to what she could earn, for her support. But we would not at that time suffer sin upon a rich brother to pay him usury. We invited a brother who was taxed for seventy thousand dollars, to let us have five hundred without interest. He refused, saying, that his money was worth ten per cent. The next week he invested this very money, with nine hundred dollars besides, and lost the entire sum, interest and all. We also stated that we never took interest from a poor brother. We gave instances where we had furnished money without interest to purchase homes for four of our ministers, they having the first claim upon us, while at the same time we were paying ten per cent on the money thus invested.

There is perfect harmony in both Testaments on this subject. The teachings in the New Testament explain the declaration to the Jews in the Old. It is a grand mistake to get the two Testaments up as antagonistic. God is the same in all dispensations, and his justice and love toward his people are the same. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and love thy neighbor as thyself, is taught in the New Testament. To secure the same principles of love, were the righteous and just principles of the law of Moses given. However much we may have failed to do all to the glory of God on other points, we are guiltless in regard to oppressing the poor. Right here the subject rolled upon us with great power, as we appealed to money-letting brethren in the audience, who were increasing their property, taking interest of the poor, and some of them without an heir in the world. Do they believe the third message, that Jesus is coming in their day? A man will show all the faith he has by what he does. May God let the leaven of truth work, not only in the Wright church, but everywhere. Mrs. W. followed for thirty minutes, in tears expressing her gratitude for the liberty and strength which God had given us to declare his truth. In the afternoon she spoke one hour and three quarters with freedom.

On first-day morning we opened the meeting at the usual hour, designing to speak upon our own experience as connected with the cause of present truth, for about one hour, but was surprised to learn when we sat down, that we had been speaking two hours. This left no time for Mrs. W. to speak.

In the afternoon the church assembled by special request, and Mrs. W. read to them forty-seven pages containing testimonies for certain persons in the church. We may remain here three weeks longer, and may God give strength to still declare his truth.

JAMES WHITE.

Wright, Ottawa Co., Jan. 9, 1867.