“WHAT DO THESE THINGS MEAN?”
DUTY is plain: the selling time has come if means is demanded to advance the cause and work of God, and can not be raised without selling your extra land and your extra houses. AWAKE, BRETHREN, TO THE CALL OF DUTY.—E. G. W., in REVIEW AND HERALD, No. 6, 1885. Everything in the world is hastening to a finish. The world is throwing its whole soul into what it is doing, and it is making things move. Why, then, is it that many of God’s institutions and enterprises are standing still or staggering right on the border line of eternity?—Clearly because we are not putting our whole soul into them to make them stand up stiffly for the truth, and move forward with power and life. It is true that in many instances there has not been the best management. But there is only one thing that can be done about this now. That is to tell the Lord that we have been all wrong, and altogether repent of the evil, and go on and do better. It is no manner of use for us to stand still, and blame those who have had charge of things. We might not have done any better if we had been in their places. “Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” Those who have had the management of things are not the only ones who can be rightly accused of wasting the means entrusted to their care. All of us have been guilty of this to a greater or less extent. In the Battle Creek College there has been mismanagement. God has reproved it; and the men who were in it have freely confessed it, and have repented of it. Many of them are doing all that they can to make amends. They are doing this in a real, material way, sacrificing, and giving of their means. Now the Lord has spoken, and has said that the debt on the college should be raised. This debt aggregates over $70,000. As there are other colleges and institutions in other districts that also have debts, it is asked that the people of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin take upon them the raising of this debt. Come along, brethren and sisters, and let us do it! It will be a bright and joyful day when this debt, which is one of the oldest as well as one of the largest resting upon a Seventh-day Adventist institution, is lifted. To lift this debt will mean for some persons to sell extra lands and houses. There are those among Seventh-day Adventists in the four States mentioned who do have extra lands and extra houses. Will these now sell these extra lands and houses, and relieve the suffering school? Or will they give these extra lands and houses to the school, so that it can sell them and free itself? Here are a few paragraphs from “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, pages 174, 175:— He [God] could send means from heaven to carry on his work; but this is out of his order. He has ordained that men should be his instruments; that as a great sacrifice was made to redeem them, they should act a part in this work of salvation by making a sacrifice for one another, and by thus doing show how highly they prize the sacrifice that has been made for them. I was directed to James 5: 1-3: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” I saw that these fearful words apply particularly to the wealthy who profess to believe the present truth. The Lord calls them to use their means to advance his cause. Opportunities are presented to them, but they shut their eyes to the wants of the cause, and cling fast to their earthly treasure. . . . They give a little now and then to ease their conscience, but have not overcome their love for this world. . . . The work is closing; and soon the means of those who have kept their riches, their large farms, their cattle, etc., will not be wanted. I saw the Lord turn to such in anger, in wrath, and repeat these words: “Go to now, ye rich men.” He has called, but you would not hear. Love of this world has drowned his voice. Now he has no use for you, and lets you go, bidding you, “Go to now, ye rich men.” . . . I was shown that as the work is closing up, and the truth is going forth in mighty power, these rich men will bring their means, and lay it at the feet of the servants of God, begging them to accept it. The answer from the servants of God will be, “Go to now, ye rich men.” Your means is not needed. Ye withheld it when ye could do good with it in advancing the cause of God. Again, on page 152, are the words,— Oh, the blighting influence that has been cast by men professing to be waiting for their Lord, and yet possessing large and attractive lands! The farms have preached louder, yea, much louder, than words can, that this world is their home. The evil day is put off. Peace and safety reign. Oh, the withering, blighting influence! “Cut loose, cut loose,” were the words of the angel. Let us all do all we can for the Lord and unto the Lord in this matter. We have before stated what Sister White is doing for the college, in giving all the proceeds from this school district, of a new and most valuable book that is coming out. Those in the school have done a great deal already, and are going to do more. Let all the people in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin make generous contributions, March 17, to relieve the college of its slavish burden. All contributions should be sent to P. T. Magan, College, Battle Creek, Mich. ALONZO T. JONES, Pres. College Board.