p. 165 | THE FOUND BOOK by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 18, 1869

THE FOUND BOOK.

By R. F. Cottrell

If men would study human character as developed in the history of the past, and consider the evidences of human depravity in the light of the backslidings and apostasies of the church in both the Jewish and Christian dispensations, and then consider that human nature remains the same as it ever has been since sin entered into the world, they would cease to wonder why a great and radical work of reform should be called for in these days. And when their sins and errors were pointed out by the word of God, they would not be so slow to admit that that word is right and they are wrong. We hear them ask, If these things are so, namely, the things which we plainly read in the Bible, why have not the Christian world and our great and learned ministers found it out? They do not stop to think how slow they are to receive the truth when they see that it is clearly revealed in the book of God. If they would do this, they would get the clue to the reason why the proud Christian world in general are so slow to see and adopt any real reform from error to truth, and from the doctrines of men to the commandments of God. Why, my friends, this has been the cry for ages past, If the Bible is right and we are wrong, why have not our learned and pious fathers found it out long ago? The great difficulty is the want of a willingness to obey the truth when it is discovered. So it has been, so it is now.

Look at the kingdom of Israel. See them forsake the true God and go into idolatry, worshiping Baal and all the abominations of the heathen whom God drove out from before them. And when some good king arises who heeds the voice of the prophets and commences a work of reform in turning to God and breaking down the altars and burning the groves and defiling down the altars and burning the groves and defiling the high places of false and idolatrous worship, see how soon there comes a relapse. Another king arises that builds again these abominations. The pious reader of our times wonders when he reads, thinking if we had been in their place, we would not have turned away from God, as they did. But remember, friend, fallen human nature is the same now that it was then. But very few persons in our times would do as well in the work of reform as some of the good kings of Judah and Israel.

For example look at the good Josiah, who came into power after the reign of the wicked Manasseh, when for more than half a century abominable idolatry had prevailed. The book of the law was found in the house of the Lord. It is brought to the king. What did the king do? Did he say the book must be wrong, or, at least out of date? Did he ask, If these things are so, why did not my father Amon and grandfather Manasseh find it out? No! “When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his clothes.” He sends men to Huldah the prophetess saying, “Go, ye, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” 2 Kings xxii.

Now, dear friends, the book has been found. That book that has been burned in past ages by Papists, and kept from the people in their own language, has been discovered. And it testifies against the wicked idolatry of its enemies, and reveals to us the lamentable fact that we have been following the traditions of apostasy instead of the truth—keeping the commandments of men instead of the commandments of God—and consequently that “the wrath of the Lord,” even “wrath without mixture,” is coming upon us, “because our fathers” and we “have not hearkened unto the words of this book.” Do not stop to inquire why the truth has not been discovered before. The book is found. Will you obey it? Will you rend your heart and not your garment for the sins and errors of the past, and go and inquire of the Lord immediately, if peradventure you may turn away the wrath of God from you, and be hid in the day of his fierce anger? The book is found! Will you have it?

R. F. COTTRELL.