Men and Things by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 1, 1872

Men and Things.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

MARTYRDOM OF HYPOCRISY.

I HAVE seldom read words of greater truth and force than the following. They are sad, but true. The world is daily furnishing us just such martyrs. I see them everywhere I go. Reader, are you one of this class? If you are, may the Lord pity you, for you will never have any reward for your suffering:

“We hear much of martyrs and confessors—of those who were slain by the sword, or consumed in the fire; but we know little of that still larger number, who, by the mere threat of persecution, have been driven into an outward abandonment of their real opinions, and who, thus forced into an apostasy the heart abhors, have passed the remainder of their lives in the practice of a constant and humiliating hypocrisy. It is this which is the real curse of religious persecution. For in this way, men being constrained to mask their thoughts, there arises a bad habit of securing safety by falsehood, and of purchasing impunity with deceit. In this way fraud becomes a necessity of life; insincerity is made a daily custom; the whole tone of public feeling is vitiated, and the gross amount of vice and of error fearfully increased.”

Here is a man who believes the present truth inwardly, but because of the cross, and the unpopularity connected with it, he does not face it. Indeed, he acts as though he did not believe it, and will often talk that way. Poor man! his conscience is suffering martyrdom more cruel than a thousand deaths. All the real manhood, nobility, and self-respect that he ought to have, is being crushed out of him. But what is worst of all, he is never to have any reward for his martyrdom. The devil is always a poor paymaster, any way.

A LONG SERMON.

Long sermons are not generally good; but here is a kind we would earnestly recommend:

“A devoutly pious man, who lived some six miles from the house of worship, once complained to his pastor of the distance he had to go to attend public worship. “Never mind,” said the good minister, “remember that every Sabbath you have the privilege of preaching a sermon six miles long—you preach the gospel to all the residents and people you pass.”

Now brother, or sister, do you live a long way from the meeting-house, and do you think it is almost useless to go so far and so regularly to meeting, when some who live much nearer do not attend as often as yourself, just remember the above and stick to your integrity.

USEFUL WATCH DOGS.

Here is a little anecdote with a good moral:

“In one of our eastern towns there lived a man who was a bold leader in all opposition to religion. He delighted in finding out all inconsistencies in the lives of Christians, and was sure to publish them throughout the neighborhood. This seemed to be his chief delight. For some reason he made up his mind to remove to another part of the country. Meeting the pastor of the church, one day, he said, after passing the usual salutation: “Well, I suppose you know that I am going to leave town soon, and you will probably be glad of it.”

“Glad of it! Why, no,” said the minister, “you are one of our most useful men; and I think I shall hardly know how to spare you.”

That took the man all aback. He didn't know what to make of it, and asked, “How is that?”

“Why,” rejoined the minister, “there can't be a sheep that gets a foot out of this fold, but that you will always bark from one end of the town to the other. I really think you have been one of the most useful watch-dogs that I ever knew.”

What minister has not found such persons as the above? Almost every community, and every church is troubled with them. But I am now inclined to think with the minister that they are the most useful members of society. So we say to our fault-finders, Bark away; particularly as you do not cost the church anything. Satan will pay you, and this will not drain the treasury any. D. M. CANRIGHT.