IT IS THE WORK OF GOD by JOS. CLARKE.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 3, 1879

IT IS THE WORK OF GOD.

By JOS. CLARKE.

Sometimes people say of the present reforms in the world, that this is the work of Eld. So-and-so; and Mr. A. or Mrs. B. is at the bottom of all this talk about the errors in Protestant creeds, and the popular beliefs.

But hold a moment—let us see; is there not generally in the whole world a class of people who are uneasy and dissatisfied with the dry theology of the Protestant pulpit and press? Are there not men and women all over the world who are disgusted with the inconsistency of the creeds of Protestants, and their want of harmony with the Bible? Has Mrs. B. or Mr. A. been all over the world to arouse this anxiety of honest souls?

As long ago as 1828, the writer of this article was surprised to find that Sunday was not the Sabbath of Adam, or of Moses, or of Paul, or of God, and being much cast down thereby, he resolved to find out who had done this work; and now at sixty-one years of age, he praises God that the Sabbath has noble, able, and eloquent advocates, who are showing who has changed the day. Did Mr. A. do this work; or Mrs. B.? All along for fifty-one years I have in my heart held decisively that the Sunday was an innovation, a plant not of God's planting; and as long ago as in 1852, we commenced keeping the Sabbath, some two years before we had seen a Sabbath-keeper, or a tract or paper on that side of the question, except the good book of God. Was not this good authority? Soon we found the S. D. Adventists, and they helped us greatly to get out of the net of error which tradition had woven. Was this the work of Eld. A., or B., or C.? All along for thirty years we have found people of thought who had felt the same convictions of which we have spoken. Some of them, to stifle their convictions of duty, took up with tradition for the sake of peace. These candidly acknowledge the truth, but feel too weak to stem the popular current, and so they float down the stream.

Some years since, churches of Sabbath-keepers were found in Europe who had never heard of S. D. Adventists, yet they were moving in the same direction. Certainly they were not influenced by the parties we have spoken of. In our conversation with people who have had no knowledge of S. D. Adventists, we often hear such expressions as these: “That is just what we have been thinking of, and talking about;” or, “That is just what I always believed,” etc. The fact is, that there is, in thoughtful, reflecting, conscientious minds, a longing for something in religion, to lift them up out of the old ruts of tradition, and free them from the influences of folly and corruption which exist everywhere.

The time has fully come for a thorough reform. God is in this, and Eld. So-and-so, and Mr. A. and Mrs. B. are his agents; and if they refuse to work, others will be raised up to do this work. The sheep everywhere are scattered, and feel a longing for the return of the Shepherd. They fail to hear his voice in the contradictions of the religious teachers of the day; and they are sad and cast down, because they are not supplied with spiritual food, and their thirst is not allayed.

It is not man who is moving upon hearts to search for the truth; it is the Spirit of God, the Comforter, who was sent for this express purpose,—to bring to men's minds the words of Jesus. The sheep call for the Shepherd, and he is not deaf to their cry. He raises up men of ability to feed the flock of God. Who does not rejoice for this, and bless the day that they were sent. The times demand good shepherds; and they must arise, for the word of God is plain on this point. JOS. CLARKE.