LOVERS OF PLEASURE

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 4, 1862

“LOVERS OF PLEASURE.”

“In the last days men shall be . . . lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” 2 Tim. iii, 1–4. Is not the following a fulfillment?

THE WAY THE WORLD GOES.

Everything goes by sprees, fits, and jerks, feastings and carousings. “On with the dance!” Is the church in debt, the parsonage? Does the pulpit need a cushion, the floor a carpet? Is the minister’s salary falling into the rears! Is the Sabbath-school library to be replenished, or an outfit for a missionary? What now? A spree, a feast, a frolic, a strawberry-festival, a pic-nic, a soirée or fancy-fair, a real smash-down business! Gospel is out of the question. Faith, that works by love and purifies the heart, is laid aside totally for the time being. Piety, the religion of Jesus, pure, undefiled, bleeds at every pore! Christ is dishonored, wounded in the house of his friends; Satan rejoices! So it goes, all right!—Golden Rule.