Sinners Converted by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 26, 1872

Sinners Converted.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

It is often urged against our work that it does not convert sinners, but simply takes members from other churches. This would be a serious objection, if it were only true. But nothing can be more false, as all our ministers and brethren can testify. So far as my experience has gone, a good share of those who embrace the truth are either infidels, unprofessors, or backsliders. True, a great many church members embrace these truths, and indeed they frequently need converting about as much as worldlings do. This they confess themselves, and very generally they have about as far to go in reforming as the others do. But there is power in this truth to reach the hardest heart, as I have frequently seen demonstrated.

Within a short time past, at this place, we have seen persons that have passed the middle-age of life without ever being affected by the popular preaching of the day. We have seen these men heartily embrace the truth, give their hearts to the Lord, and commence to lead holy lives. Nor has it been excitement, or an appeal to the sympathies, that has wrought this change in them; but simply truth, attended by the Spirit of God. For this, we will rejoice and thank God, whether men like it or not.

Our land is as full of Pharisees and hypocritical professors as was ever Jerusalem in the days of Christ. There are men and women, who, simply because they belong to the church, feel called upon to denounce, deride, and oppose the present truth, because, as they say, it divides the church, and takes their best members from them. Very frequently these persons are proud as Lucifer, vain, fond of show, and give good reason for us to believe that they have simply joined the church for popularity. Their religion has made no difference in their dress, as they wear as much jewelry, as many flowers, feathers, gewgaws, &c., as ever. It has not subdued their pride; for they are as haughty as before. It has not changed their lives, as they grind the face of the poor, oppress the widow, take exorbitant rates of interest, and in every way show themselves entirely destitute of the Spirit of Christ. These are the ones who denounce those who preach and obey the truth, simply because they feel no need of it themselves. Instead of sparing or modifying our preaching for such hypocrites, it is simply an indication that we ought to cry the louder, and lay it on the harder. If we do not, there is no hope of their being aroused.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Hutchinson, Minn., Nov. 12, 1872.