“Thank God, Adventism Is not Dead.”
By CHAS. L. BOYD.
Many times these words have pressed into my mind since hearing them uttered by an aged sister who, with her husband, preached the speedy return of Jesus in 1840, and who suffered the most bitter persecution with him, when the time passed, for having deceived the people. After this, they lost their whereabouts, received error, and were groping their way in darkness when their ears were saluted with the joyful sound of the third angel's message. They now saw the cause of their disappointment, and that the hand of God was in the proclamation of the first message. As the hart pants after the water-brooks to quench its thirst, so had they panted after the truth, and with a similar satisfaction it was received. And now came from the full soul of one who was willing to sacrifice anything for the truth, “Thank God, Adventism is not dead.” Week by week the REVIEW brings new evidence that Adventism is not dead, that even now this message is going to the different nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. The minds of the people are in a state of readiness to hear, and then receive or reject, these solemn truths, as they have never been before. Truly the harvest time has come. God is sending forth reapers into the great harvest field, and sheaves are being bound for the heavenly garner. This is a world-wide message, and we see the religious world being agitated by this last and most solemn warning. All nations were to be corrupted by the doctrines of the power which was drunken with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. The doctrines of this power have been more or less received wherever the gospel has been preached. To-day we see Protestantism running in a channel almost parallel with papacy, and what may be looked for in the future? Gladly would the advocates and lovers of “established customs” see the destruction of those who still stand on the true Protestant platform, the Bible, fearlessly sounding the solemn call, “Come out of her my people,” and acknowledging the law of God and the faith of Jesus as their guide. But they may look in vain. “Thank God, Adventism is not dead, and we know its warning voice will be heard till the honest have heeded its call, and are sealed with the seal of God, and then the voice of the Archangel will be heard by the sleeping saints, and the joyful shout will be raised by the righteous living, ‘Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us.’” Till this long-looked-for time, none need look for the death of Adventism; for God has said, “I have set watchmen upon thy wall, O Jerusalem! which shall never hold their peace day nor night.” “Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way of the people.” “Is not creation weary?
Has sin not reigned full long?
Hear, Lord, thy church’s pleading,
Come, end her day of wrong.”