The Sermon by E. Goodrich

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1867

The Sermon.

By E. Goodrich

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, PREACH THE WORD. 2 Tim. iv, 2.

A PRAYER-MEETING TALK.

BY ELD. E. GOODRICH.

At such a time as this, a prayer and conference meeting, it seems hardly proper that anything like an extended address or discourse should be given; for it is a meeting in which all the lovers of truth and our Saviour are expected to take part. One has a prayer, another a hymn; one gives a word of exhortation, while another gives his experience, telling how good the Lord has been to him; and thus all are edified, sinners are warned, the weak are encouraged and strengthened to take up the cross, while the strong are made to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

And as I looked around upon the friends and brethren that have come in this morning, both to witness and enjoy this social feast, as some have and some have not embraced Jesus, the thought occurred that we all need reformation. Those who have never made a profession of religion, who have never put away their sins by confession, nor their iniquities by turning to the Lord, should begin now. There never can be a better time to make an open profession of faith in Christ and break away from the thralldom of sin than now. Who will improve it?

Those who have made a beginning, and have started in the good and right way, should renewedly consecrate themselves to God and seek to double their diligence that they may make their peace, their calling, and election sure. And those who are strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, who are veterans in the service of God, having passed through many a hard battle and been scarred and wounded by the enemy, these should gird on the armor more securely, that they may be ready for yet more severe fighting, and be victorious at last.

But in contemplating the general necessity of reformation, certain objections arise in the mind, of which, by your permission, I will briefly speak.

The reason why men do not receive and live out the truths of divine revelation as contained in the Scriptures, is, either they do not understand and believe them, or else, knowing them, they have not strength and courage to obey them. The first thought that seems to deserve notice in the order of remark is, it is always easier to see a truth than it is to obey that truth, on the principle that it costs less to plan than to execute. The mechanic of ordinary mind, who yet has neither ambition to labor nor means to spend, may, in a single hour, plan the erection of a house that would require years of patient toil and thousands of dollars to build. And in the same way one may praise virtue or benevolence without self-denial. And in the same manner we may speak of the drunkard who is easily convinced, and who will readily confess, that his course is wrong, yet there is deep-seated passion, and long years of habit, which it is almost like death itself to overcome; and as you talk to him, and as he confesses to you, he will say, “Oh! it is all very good to talk about the sin of intemperance, but you do not know my thirst.”

And so it is with almost every sin, and lust that reigns in our carnal heart—like the cable that parted in mid-ocean and sank down into its miry bed—it is almost impossible to reach them, and if they are once grappled and brought to the surface amid the shoutings of our friends, ere we are aware, perhaps, they will slip from the grappling-hooks, and again sink down to where they were before. In this view of the matter, we readily and safely conclude that there are not so many hypocrites in the world as there are persons, who, although they know and preach the truth, are quite unable to practice what they preach.

Neither is this a matter of wonder; for when the cross, which is but a symbol of ignominy, and death appears to our view with all its agonies, it is but natural that we should shrink back, and seek some other and easier course of life.

And I feel this morning like weeping and mourning over the deep-seated iniquity of my own carnal heart, for almost daily I discover some hidden sins—some, as yet, unsubdued passion. In this, we learn the important lesson of our own weakness, and the need of divine grace. Paul could say that he had no confidence in the flesh, and we may all say the same thing. Many start out in the work of reformation, and apparently run well for a season; but they soon cease their efforts for the want of a sustaining power, and it must ever be so to those who seek reformation without God.

The second thought that comes in our way in considering this theme, is the semi-insane desire and purpose of almost every person to reform his neighbor, while he has little or no thought of his own needs in this direction. Like as it was in the days of our Saviour, men can much more readily discover the mote that is in their brother’s eye, than see the beam that is in their own eye.

This is true both of individuals and classes. The sinner who is out of the church is ready to criticise, find fault with, and condemn, the wrongs of professors of religion; while if you attempt to demonstrate to him his own duties to God as a creature and constant dependent, he will reply by saying, “Oh! I don’t profess religion!” as though that, the most contemptible of excuses, would exonerate him from just duties. As well might the boy who is lounging about the town (and yet who has been clothed, fed, and schooled by his father, and who expects when his father dies he will inherit his estate), say, when requested to work for his father, “Oh! I ain’t working for the old man.”

And if we turn our attention to the church, the same thing, to a great extent, exists here; for, as a general rule, both shot and shell are poured unmercifully into the camp of sinners without, while those within pass unreproved, especially if they are popular, and withal liberal in their support of the preacher. This is decidedly wrong. There are many hateful forms of selfishness, but none so vile as that which justifies wrong at home, while it bitterly condemns the same thing abroad. Now all true and genuine reformations should, and must of necessity, begin with the reformer, on the principle that no one can teach another what he himself does not know. And even if the theory be ever so perfect, if the example is wanting, the lesson is not half given. Parents frequently err in this matter; for, although they tell their children what to do, yet they do not show them what is right. Why, it is just as reasonable to suppose that a perfect work can be produced from an imperfect model, and a perfect scholar from an imperfect teacher, as to think that any great work of reformation can be accomplished by a man who has never reformed himself. And it is a fact that perhaps you have all observed, that every great and lasting revival of religion always begins with the church.

The third and last thought to which your attention is called, is the great lack of patience in our efforts at reformation whether for ourselves or others. And we frequently act as though we expected to accomplish in a single hour, or effort, the work of many days, or even years. In this I sometimes think men act as though they were riding upon the cars, and having obtained, as they suppose, a through ticket, they quietly seat themselves, and read and enjoy the news of the day. But this is not the way to reform; for in morals, as in agricultural life, there is a seed time and a harvest time; and thorough and ripe reformation being a continued and progressive work is necessarily a work of time. Who would ever think of curing old chronic diseases in a day, or by a single application of some remedy? One may as well expect this as to hope that in a single effort he may overcome those inveterate habits that have become a sort of second nature. Many who engage in the work of reformation, if they are measurably

defeated in their first attempt, or if they do not see an immediate harvest, are ready to abandon all. They say, “Oh! it is of no use trying to be anything, or to do anything, for I never can succeed.” But this is not the way. It is just as much the duty of the ambassador of God and the truth to go forth scattering the precious seed both early and late, leaving the result with time and God, as it is for the subordinate to obey the orders of his superior. And if one plants while another waters, or sows while another reaps, it is just the same, for all will rejoice in the final harvest. Many a fond and praying mother, who has wept over and labored for her wayward boy, has gone down with sorrow to her grave without witnessing one sign of reform in her son; and yet, after many years, those prayers and tears and many exhortations are crowned with an abundant, joyous result. And as the once reckless sailor boy, but now thoroughly-reformed sea-captain returns to the scenes of his childhood, perhaps the first thing that he does is to visit the grave of his dear mother, and there, in the presence of God alone, beneath the evergreen tree, as his hand rests upon the mossy tombstone, kneels down and fervently thanks God for the early influences of a pious mother. And as you listen to his experience he will tell you that in all those years of darkness and sin, there was always, away down in his heart, a green and tender spot caused by the loving words of a truly Christian mother. Even when the storm came on and was at its height, so that the ocean was lashed into madness by the fury of the waves, he always was calmed by the consciousness that his mother was praying for him, and that her prayers would be heard.

But, brethren, I am taking up your time. If we would reform, our minds should be thoroughly informed, our hearts should be consecrated, and we should begin at once, and at home, and patiently continue to work till our Master bids us cease. “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps. cxxvi, 6.