Thoughts by the Way by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 17, 1874

Thoughts by the Way.

By D. T. Bourdeau

CONVERTED TO GOD AND CONVERTED TO MAN.

Those who are converted to God will tremble at his word, fear to offend him, seek to please him, be willing to suffer for the sake of his truth, love to commune with him, and prize the honor that comes from God, and the blessings of his Spirit more than worldly honor. Those who are converted to man will fear the word of man more than the word of their Maker, will fear more to offend man than they do to offend God, will prize the applause of men more than the approbation of God, will shrink from the suffering and self-denying part of religion, and will keep up such outward forms of religion as will keep them in repute with the popular religionists of the day, or with those of their sect or party. Such know but little of experimental religion, of communing and walking with God, of the blessedness derived from obtaining victories over sin. Such are to be pitied. They have no moral backbone. To-day they may acknowledge the force of the truth. To-morrow, if the truth is opposed by the popular tide, they will sell their conscience for the favor of the multitude. Such need to be converted to God. They have a poor prop to lean upon in time of trouble. I thank God that in all ages he has in his infinite wisdom seen fit to use unpopular truth to show what principles actuate men, and to reform those who will be reformed.

DEVOURING WOLVES.

This epithet is sometimes applied to those who preach present truth, who are also accused of destroying the church. But will it destroy the church to preach the coming of the Lord when he is near, and to show the importance of repenting and leading holy lives to meet him in peace? Let it be shown that this is a corrupt doctrine, and then will there be some fitness in the cry of wolves. But those who raise this cry will generally foam their shame and then run. Truth courts investigation, while error shuns it, lest its deformity should appear.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS HAVE NO CREED.

Not long since, a preacher urged this fact, as an objection to receiving our views, even though they were true. He said we were like a ship without a compass, and if he joined us, it would be like starting on a ship for France and landing in China. This might be true, perhaps, if a creed was to take the place of the Bible. But if the Bible is a sufficient rule of faith and practice, I see not why it may not lead us safely to the port of eternal rest. It was a sufficient compass for the primitive church, and why may it not be for us? Our views are maintained by the Bible and are clearly stated in our works and sermons, and, thank God, our people are united on doctrine. But we are careful not to retard the work of reform and advancement in the truth by binding ourselves by human creeds to believe just what our fathers believed, right or wrong. D. T. BOURDEAU.