p. 564 | THE CAUSE IN ENGLAND by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 16, 1880

THE CAUSE IN ENGLAND.

By John Norton Loughborough

SINCE my last report, another one has taken a stand for the Sabbath in Romsey, and several in Upham, as the result of reading our books and papers. Some of these desire baptism.

We are cheered to learn, by report from the General Conference, that we are to have so large a number of Signs of the Times with which to do missionary work. As our brethren in America make so noble an effort to send us these papers, it places a responsibility upon us to use them in a proper manner. Our earnest, daily prayer is, that the Lord will guide and open our way before us.

Sadness is in many hearts and homes here, at the loss of friends by the wreck of vessels in the severe gales of the last fortnight. The London Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, last week, contained the following:—

“We do not know that it has ever been our

lot to record such a list of maritime disasters as have resulted from the violence of the late gales. Our impression of Tuesday contained upwards of three hundred casualties. At Lloyd's, as many as one hundred and thirty losses were posted in one day. . . . So sudden and so violent a visitation has seldom been experienced in these latitudes.”

Be it understood that the above casualties were all on the coast of Great Britain. These things strikingly remind us of the words of Christ in Luke 21:25, 26: “The sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after the things that are coming on the earth; for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken.” In this nation we have an exemplification of the words of Christ, “distress of nations with perplexity,” not only in the state of affairs in South Africa, and the connection of the nation with Turkey, but the situation in Ireland bordering on an outbreak and civil war, all tend to tax the mind of the wisest rulers.

Crimes, of such a type as burglary, adultery, and brutal murders, seem to be on an alarming increase. Sudden deaths are also increasing at a fearful rate. These things cause a look of seriousness on some for a time, but with the masses its “on with the dance,” grasping for the world and its pleasures. Not so, however, with all. The thoughtful are enquiring if these things do not forbode the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour.

Southampton, just at present, is startled somewhat by a series of seven discourses from Canon Wilberforce, who stands at the head of one of the most popular established churches of the Borough. In these discourses he is making a plain and unequivocal denial of the doctrine of eternal misery to the wicked, but instead of advocating the Bible doctrine of life only through Christ, he claims that all future punishment is of a reformatory character, and that eventually all men are to be saved. Of course this makes some stir among churchmen, as it is in so direct antagonism to the last article of St. Athanasius Creed, which he is supposed to be sworn to support. This article reads, “They that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.”

Our friend Wilberforce has found a little different method of explaining this fire from that of the American Methodists. While they thought the fire was simply “the upbraidings of a guilty conscience,” the Canon has discovered that this fire is “the love of God,” which is to purge away the sinner's sins, and leave him ultimately to enjoy the bliss of Heaven. Of this, I will give an article at greater length after I get the report of the whole seven sermons complete.

Amid all these things, we are seeking to do what we can for the cause of truth. Pray for us that we may have wisdom to discern openings for good, and, “as we have opportunity, do good unto all men.” J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.