p. 80 | NEUTRALITY by R. F. Cottrell

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

NEUTRALITY

By R. F. Cottrell

In the commencement of the present struggle between the North and the South, Kentucky undertook to maintain a neutral position. But the word with Unionists was, “He that is not for us is against us.—If Kentucky does not support the government, she favors the rebellion.” The rebels also claimed her as their own, entering her territory with armed forces, till she was compelled to decide for or against the rebellion.

I have recently found some, where I have been laboring, who seem to admit that we have the truth in respect to the mark of the beast, but think they will not have the mark upon themselves, because they do not regard the observance of Sunday as a religious institution in any sense. It would seem that they propose to themselves neutrality, in the great and final moral conflict between truth and error. But they may find it as difficult to maintain the neutral position as did Kentucky. Truth cannot claim them as hers, but error will; because their works are in harmony with the popular error. Kentucky bore the mark of rebellion in her hand, till she received the seal of the Union in her forehead. So these will never free themselves from the mark of their allegiance to the beast, till they decidedly embrace that institution of Jehovah to which the mark of the beast is opposed. May they soon abandon their idea of neutrality, and take a decided stand for the truth. R. F. COTTRELL.