p. 376 | Untitled article by Jos. Clarke

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

ADVENTISM.

By Jos. Clarke

Much obloquy is thrown upon Adventists because they advocate views which are peculiar and uncommon.

It is admitted that those who believe in the soon coming of our Lord are peculiar; but why is it so? Simply because the world in general disbelieve this doctrine. Also we admit that Sabbath-keeping is peculiar. Why? Because the world and most of the churches keep a day of their own choosing, versus the true Sabbath. Under these unfortunate circumstances you are in a dilemma. Either you must deny facts and disobey the moral law, or be peculiar. Whichever of these you choose, decides your true sentiments and groundwork of character.

Nothing elicits more ridicule than Millerism, as it is called, or Adventism; and in the newspapers of the day, and the common conversation of the people, and from the pulpit itself come the most caustic satires, and sarcasms aimed at Adventists. A late number of the New York Tribune thus vents itself upon those who look for the coming of the Lord:

“We notice that those who believe in the speedy second coming and an approaching millennium, are holding camp-meetings in different parts of the country. It is now a quarter of a century since the Rev. Mr. Miller, aided immensely by a large and unexpected comet, created considerable excitement and some alarm by predicting a final terrestrial conflagration, the same having been figuratively foretold by the prophet Daniel and St. John the divine. The idea of the abolition from the solar system of this great globe is an old one. It was entertained in the earliest days of Christianity, and frequently revived during the Middle Ages. Its origin, we suppose, is partly religious, partly scientific, and partly intellectual. In the first place, the world is too wicked to wag much longer, and while it does last, should, by every rule of right reason, belong to the saints. In the second place, other heavenly bodies have come to grief, and why should not ours? Thirdly, we naturally attach the idea of end to all materiality; for it logically follows beginning. “We have no wish to throw any discredit upon anybody’s religious belief, and are ready to admit that many learned men have had full faith in mundane destruction. Although we are forced ourselves to go on from day to day precisely as if there never would be an end of publishing, we know in our secret soul—much, we admit, to our mortification—that the morning

will come when no Tribune will be published. Nor are we singular in our perseverance. Believers in an approximating millennium never cease to attend to the vital economies. They sow in the seed-time; they take and give notes at six and nine months; they purchase land, and they make provision for the heirs of their bodies. It is next to impossible for any man to dissever himself from his earthly relations; it is only death which can unmesh us from the toils in which we are struggling.

“The world may be destroyed, but it is our opinion that the democratic party will go first. While Mr. Vallandigham continues to make speeches, those who fear the crack of doom may take courage. When Sir Charles Lyell was in this country he attended a Millerite meeting, and the predictions which he there heard, if we may credit his journal, did not in the least disturb his scientific serenity. Instead of becoming low-spirited at sermons about the image of ‘fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay,’ Sir Charles fell back upon his geology, and derived much comfortable assurance therefrom. This was wise. Any person, without objection from us, may believe that the world is coming to an end in 1868, as the new saints solemnly affirm. We only insist that to-day and to-morrow, whatever his hands may find to do, he shall do with all his might.”

Respecting the Sabbath, the worldly churches and those in their influence, are almost indignant. Lately a pleasant speaker of the Methodist order, thus relieved himself of the venom that was in his heart. Speaking of some of his father’s experience on a certain occasion in opposing Sabbath-breaking, meaning breach of the first-day observance, he said, “Would to God every Sabbath-breaker had died at that time!” I ask, if his wish had been satisfied, would the speaker now exist to bless us with his presence, and terrify us by his fulminations? Alas! how few would now live, if that wish had been fulfilled; in fact there would be no need of missionaries or missions, ministers or people of the earth would truly have been destroyed; for all the nominal churches even, are in fact Sabbath-breakers in the letter, and by far the most of them in spirit; for the true Sabbath is not only ignored by them, but it is derided. JOS. CLARKE.