p. 67 | A NOBLE WORK by W. H. Ball

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 23, 1869

A NOBLE WORK.

By W. H. Ball

While attending the meeting recently held at South Lancaster, Mass., by Bro. and Sr. White, I was led to realize as never before the greatness of the work in which they are engaged. One important branch of their work seems to be to search out and hunt up the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This is a noble work; and in view of the reproof given by God to the shepherds of Israel for neglecting to attend to this work, see Ezek. xxxiv, 1–11, I think its importance cannot be overestimated. Says Jesus, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

The man that leaves his ninety and nine sheep in the wilderness, and goes into the mountains in search of one that had gone astray, is no hireling, but is a faithful shepherd. A hireling would have reasoned thus: There is but one sheep gone, and I shall not trouble myself to go into the mountains and woods to hunt up one poor, weak, foolish sheep, that ought to have known better than to leave the fold. It may go. Not so with the good shepherd. No sooner does he learn that one sheep is missing than he immediately starts off in pursuit of it; and if perchance he find it, what then? Does he begin to beat the poor creature for leaving the fold, and causing him so much trouble? By no means. With joy he approaches the poor sheep, and if he finds it too weak to travel, he carefully takes it in his arms, or lays it upon his shoulders, and bears it back to the fold, rejoicing that the lost sheep is found. He rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety and nine which went not astray. Says the Great Shepherd, “I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.”

How many poor souls have wandered away from the fold of Christ, and been left to perish because there was no good shepherd to search them out and bring them back. Thank God that some are taking hold of this work. We have a wonderful exhibition of the care and faithfulness of God’s dear servants in hunting up the lost sheep in my own case. I had wandered far away from the fold, and had no desire nor expectation of ever returning. And when Bro. and Sr. White and Bro. Andrews came to hunt me up (a little more than a year since), they found me bitterly opposed to them and their mission. I was right upon a turning point, was about casting my interest in with an opposition paper, and its supporters. I had written an article for that paper, stating if it could be enlarged and issued weekly, that I would be one of fifty to pay $10 a year for it until it could be sustained at a more moderate price. But seeing an appointment in the Review for a meeting at our place by Bro. and Sr. White, I decided to withhold sending my article until I heard what they might have to say concerning my case, but had no idea that I should change my mind in the least, nor that I should be benefited by their labors.

In this state of mind, of course, I was all ready when they arrived to show fight. My combativeness was fully aroused, and I manifested strong opposition. The chances to win me back to the fold again, seemed small indeed; yet the Lord’s servants labored and toiled on with untiring energy to bring me back. It was not until near the close of the meetings that the scales fell from my eyes, and I saw that I had been opposing the work of God, and cruelly wounding the hearts of his dear people.

After witnessing in a large degree, and sharing somewhat of the blessing of God which attended the labors of his faithful servants, I decided to ground my weapons of rebellion, and with humble confession find my way back to the fold, and ask for some humble place among God’s people. I have been laid hold of, as it were, and pulled out of the fire—have been rescued from the power of Satan. My conversion (as Bro. White stated at the Lancaster meeting) is truly remarkable. I question if an instance can be found in the history of Sabbath-keeping Adventists, of an individual’s going so far into the regions of doubt and unbelief, and manifesting such bitter hatred and opposition to this work as has the writer, that has ever been rescued from the snare of the Devil.

Elds. Snook and Brinkerhoff (poor souls) were led to see, and deeply feel, their wrong course, and came back and made humble confessions of their wrongs; and from the deep humility which seemed to be manifested on their part, we should have thought they would be the last men to think of ever going into rebellion again. But in a very brief space of time, we find them engaged again in their rebellious work, manifesting tenfold more of the spirit of the dragon than before.

We have the case of D. W. Hull. He, through the influence of S. and B., entered the rebel service. But the Spirit of God showed him his mistake, and he came back with a confession of his wrongs, and requested all those who thought of going into rebellion to write to him before taking the fatal step. But within about eight and forty hours from this, we find him again in the rebel ranks, giving vent to his wicked and rebellious spirit. The last we heard of the poor man he had drank down the “strong delusion,” Spiritualism, and Satan had him fast within the meshes of his net.

How will it be with the writer? Shall I, after all the Lord has done for me, prove true to him, his cause, and his people? or shall I, like the individuals just mentioned, again go into rebellion? Perhaps some fear for the latter. But years of hard and energetic labor in the service of Satan, with nothing but darkness and spiritual death for rations, has given me an experience, and taught me a lesson not soon to be forgotten. If I should, with the light I now have, be left of God, and again go into rebellion, my case would be perilous indeed. My only safety is in living near the Lord, where he can keep me from falling as others have done. The Lord has done a great work for me during the past year, and if any poor mortal has reason for deep gratitude of heart to God for his forbearance, longsuffering, and tender mercies, I most certainly have.

I have labored to some extent the past year to correct my wrongs, and counteract my wrong influence, but find it to be no easy task. I have learned that it requires a lifetime to undo the injury that may be done to the cause of God in one hour with the pen, aided by Satan. I fear I never shall be able to right all the wrongs I have committed, therefore, must trust alone in the merits of the blood of Christ for pardon and salvation.

W. H. BALL.

Washington, N. H.