Opposition of Unreasonable Men.
By H. S. GURNEY
The devil has always been engaged in warfare against the law of God, and never in a more determined manner than now. He commenced with our first parents, and will, to the last, continue his warfare against the remnant of the woman’s seed who keep the commandments of God. I look with astonishment upon the darkness, especially of those who profess to love the appearing of our Lord, and yet find fault, not only with the law of God, but with every one who keeps it. How do men become so blinded as to confederate with the devil in his work of destroying that law which inspiration has pronounced perfect? The devil is not particular in regard to the means which may be used against the law, neither are those men who are so willing to become his servants and use his weapons of warfare. They remind one of the unclean spirit that, when cast out of a man, was asked his name; he replied, “Legion, for we are many.” However hostile to each other in their views taken against the law of God, if the object is to put it away, all right. Pilate and Herod can agree. So can these men in their object while their theories are as much opposed to each other as they are to the law of God. What can be done for such a people? If we attempt to show up their false positions and jangling theories, they charge us with having a wrong spirit, taking the judgment-seat, &c. Those termed first-day Adventists, in this vicinity, inspired somewhat by a spirit they find in the Christian Times, freely unite with the dragon by various means and positions, railing not excepted, against the law of God. They seem very sure that Miller was a false prophet, yet they claim to be Adventists. Their particular peculiarity is their faith in the unconscious state of the dead and the final destruction of the wicked. Their warfare against the law has seemed to so imbue them with the spirit of war that they succeed in getting up some excitement on their peculiar topics, and thus they keep at work. Leaving out the truth of immortality through Christ alone, their whole advent theory is an empty shell which the day of God will devour, as the flame devours the chaff. The little sprinkling of truth mixed with their theories will prove no excuse for such in the Judgment. They exemplify a darkness which is truly alarming in view of their profession of light. These men seem to forget that all of the many false positions on time are entirely outside of the Seventh-day Adventist ranks, and among themselves. Not one of their many positions on time since Mr. Miller’s day has been proved correct. The word of God, which corroborates history, being true, they must meet a disappointment every time. But thinking that in some way Seventh-day Adventists favor Bro. Miller’s position on time, they are anxious to prove that he is the false prophet! Consistency is a jewel. I was told by one that nothing could be taken from the ten commandments. A few days after, he attempted to show before the public that the old covenant which was done away was the ten commandments. When asked by a Methodist if he meant that the commandments were done away, he answered, “I did not say so.” What do such men mean? Their positions when traced to their legitimate conclusions say what they deny, when questioned, evidently because of popular opinion. If these alone were the only ones concerned in such dishonest jangling, we could leave them to take care of themselves. But many are hanging upon their skirts honestly deceived by the free circulation of falsehood and misrepresentation. One of those teachers when accused of not agreeing among themselves, said, “The reason why we do not agree is because we read the Bible for ourselves, and take no man for our leader, and every one will be judged according to his understanding of it.” Well, thought I, if there is no law as a rule of judgment, then every man is a law unto himself, every man is right if he only thinks so. When a class of men acknowledge their own confusion, no wonder they find fault with a discourse on the subject of Babylon, and charge us with censuring other denominations. Of course such cannot see any specialty or much importance in the second advent faith. What kind of work is it that ripens the harvest of the earth? Were those who rejected Noah’s message saved in the ark? Were the Sodomites excusable in rejecting the message sent to them? Remember Lot’s wife! Was the baptism of John of heavenly birth, and could the rejectors of his message believe on Christ? Yet our Lord said, “How oft would I have gathered you . . . but ye would not.” Outside of the work of John and Christ were any safe? Is God less particular in the preparatory work to receive our Lord at his second coming? The little flock are bid not to fear. It is our Father’s good pleasure to give them the kingdom. Says Jesus, “If I go away, I will come again.” God’s especial manifestations have always been preceded by a warning message. Our Lord was very particular to fix the period of warning to precede his second advent. The prophet Joel has also said, “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm, . . . . Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Why disturb the people with such a message if they can be saved without it just as well? It is painful to consider the fallen condition of those professing the advent faith and finding fault with the law of God. Here is a specimen of their darkness: I was in a meeting yesterday where about one quarter of the congregation were Seventh-day Adventists. Quite an effort was made to convince somebody that it was wrong to seek justification by the law, and thus fall from faith. I wondered whom he was talking to. I knew it did not apply to Seventh-day Adventists, for there is no people more grossly misrepresented than they are upon this point, and our views in regard to this have been very plainly laid before the public. But not being so well acquainted with their people, and knowing that it was difficult to find two of them agreed, I thought it might be some of them had fallen from grace, and I questioned whether they had looked at the law question long enough to fall from grace. I finally concluded that the man did not understand his business. All this commotion is evidence that the third angel’s message is working among them, and indeed quite a number here are taking hold of this message in good earnest, and now confess with tears of sorrow that they have been in a dark place, but have now reached a position of light and liberty. H. S. GURNEY.
Greenwood, Mich.