A Word to Beginners by R. F. Cottrell

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Nov 16, 1876

A Word to Beginners.

By R. F. Cottrell

To those who have had but a short experience in the cause of present truth, it may not be improper for one who has the benefit of twenty-five years of experience and observation in connection with this last message, to offer advice.

All should understand that the main point in conversion to God, is submission to his will. The spirit of submission yields the very sweetest enjoyment. We are not called to submission to popes or any uninspired men. This is becoming well understood; but by many the idea of liberty is carried to an extreme, resulting in anarchy and disorder. On the contrary, the work of God is always a work of order. “God is not the author of confusion.” Confusion belongs to Babylon, out of which God calls his people, at the time when her plagues are about to come. If they are called out of a state of confusion, they are called to a state of unity and order; and if it is “a voice from heaven” that calls them out, the inspiration of God accompanies the message. Without this inspiration the people of God could not be brought out of the reigning confusion and united in the last message, and so prepared for the advent of Christ.

Therefore, when we embrace this message, we receive it “as it is in truth the word of God,” and “not as the word of men.” See 1 Thess. 2: 13. If God is not in this work it is the greatest delusion of the age, much more deceptive and dangerous to believers in revelation than Spiritualism, because it is built upon the plainest teachings of the Bible; whereas it is the work of Spiritualism to overthrow the Bible. And if it is of God, submission to its teachings is submission to God, and not to men. If God is our leader, it is safe to follow. It is safe to walk in all the light that has come to us with this message. For example, the light in regard to health reform is connected with, and cannot be separated from, the present work. To heed the teachings of the health reform is for our good; not to heed them is dangerous. Those who reject or neglect the health reform do so at their peril. It is of God, and consequently for our good. And those who do not wish to backslide should be careful to accept of all the light God has given.

During the past twenty-five years, numbers have nominally embraced this message, who only accepted it in part; and when they have essayed to correct its errors, and, in their zeal, have been led to openly oppose the inspiration of the message, they have invariably backslidden; while those who have walked in all the light have held on their course, growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is according to experience and observation as far as my knowledge extends, and as far as I have been able to learn.

Now the evidences of the truthfulness of our mission are increasing, while the time in which to prove our faithfulness is shortening. Therefore the young in the cause should learn from the experience of others in the past, and not hazard the trial of experimenting as others have done. You have not time to be thrown away in proving the matter in your own personal experience. Accept of the truth, the whole truth, and walk in the light, all the light you can get; and you will find it profitable and safe. Be assured, it will be for your best good.

I have mentioned the health reform as a sample. Those who only embrace it in part, and make no effort to come up fully to the great principles of reform, are not advancing in spiritual life. Those are most spiritually minded who are conscientiously striving to walk in all the light. And this is a demonstration that the introduction of the health reform among us is of God.

My dear friends, have faith in God, have faith in his word, have faith in his work. As far as possible, and as fast as is consistent, walk in all the light; knowing that in so doing, you are submitting to God, and not to men; and that you personally will be the gainer, and God will be glorified in your salvation.

R. F. COTTRELL.