A Confession by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 26, 1867

A Confession.

By John Norton Loughborough

PAUL in writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, says: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all.” 1 Tim. iv, 14, 15. Timothy had been set apart to the most solemn work of acting as an ambassador for Christ,—to speak to the nations of the earth in behalf of the Kingdom of the Son of God. It was a work which could not be carelessly done, or done at the halves, therefore he says, “Give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all.” As much as to say, This work is of such character that it will not admit of a dividing of the interests and efforts. Time is needed to study the truth of God, and to study the condition of the hearers, so that the truth may be applied to them to fit their condition, and applied in such a manner that it may rouse them to a sense of their condition, and may accomplish a work for them which will make the profiting of the minister appear unto all. Not that they will praise the minister, but they will see and know, that he is devoted to the work and properly selects and adapts his subjects to the wants of the congregation; as Paul expressed in his second letter to Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. ii, 15.

The minister of Christ needs, constantly, to have a realizing sense that he is acting as an ambassador for the God of Heaven. That the closest application is necessary on his part, that the work be not marred in his hands. The same injunction, in different words was made to the priests who served in the sanctuary of the past dispensation. In order that they might be faithful and preserve in their mind a constant sense of the sacredness of the work, it was required of them to have no inheritance among the children of Israel.—“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thy inheritance among the children of Israel. And behold I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Num. xviii, 20, 21.

While meditating upon the scriptures, of late, I have been led to ask myself the question, Can ministers of Christ, in these last days, when Satan’s power is so great, and there is so much need of wisdom and energy to bring the truth to bear upon the minds of God’s people in an effective manner, tangle themselves with the affairs of this life, and be faithful to Him who has called them to be soldiers? I have also read with great interest the Testimony of Sr. White in No. 11, on the subject of the ministry, and I can speak from experience concerning some things there mentioned. I speak not as an innocent one; for I verily am guilty of some of the things there mentioned. I regret that I have not given myself more fully to the work of the message. I thought I had a good reason for engaging in peddling to some extent. I thought I would not have my brethren called upon again to help me to means, but, would help myself to make my home more healthy and convenient. I thought I would sell useful articles to my able brethren as I went from place to place, to attend meetings. Sometimes I have exposed them for sale at the place of meeting. My excuses for this course do not justify it. My course was wrong. I will transgress no more upon this point. It is my duty to labor wholly in the cause of God, and God has ordained that those who preach the gospel, should live of the gospel.

I would say to my brethren in New York, that I deeply regret that I carried any merchandise with me to your Conferences. To you, and all my brethren, in other places where I have carried merchandise I would say, Forgive me for this digression from the work. I will try to redeem the past by more devotion and consecration to the work in the future. I did not realize how much these things were dividing my mind, till since I have abandoned the traffic. I am now determined to throw my whole energies into this cause as never before. God has blessed me since coming to this conclusion. May he help me ever to be faithful as an ambassador in this last solemn work.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.