ADMONITIONS AND WARNINGS: VS A CRY OF PEACE.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
Every true prophet of old had admonitions, reproofs, and warnings for the people. They were needed then, and still are at the present time. There never was a time when people could truly be told that they were all right and safe, and there was no need of reform, nor danger to be feared. On the other hand, it was ever a characteristic of false teachers to cry, Peace. Says the Lord, “Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace.” See Eze. 13:10; Jer. 6:14; 8:11. As it was anciently, so it is now. God sends his servants to sound an alarm, in order that his people may be prepared to escape coming judgments. Their work is opposed by a cry of peace and safety. Though the testimony of the word of God is that sudden destruction shall come upon such, and they shall not escape, yet they do not fear to array themselves on that side of the question. At the time when the second coming of Christ is near, and all are admonished to watch in respect to that event, “lest,” he says, “coming suddenly, he find you sleeping,” he has described two classes of servants; one giving food to the household of faith in due season, that is, preaching the truth due at that time, which must of necessity be the doctrine of the advent at hand; the other soothing the world with an opposing strain, namely, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” And he opposes his fellow-servants, those preaching the truth for the time, eats and drinks with the lovers of pleasure, and, in a word, lives the life of an unbeliever. Said Jesus, “The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.” See Matt. 24:49–51. Yet many a professed minister of the gospel of to-day takes his stand on that side of the question, and ventures to oppose the truth concerning the near advent with scoffs, and sneers, and ridicule; thus fulfilling themselves the prediction of an apostle, that there should “come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” 2 Pet. 3:3, 4. As the Jews fulfilled the predictions of the prophets, by rejecting and crucifying Jesus (Acts 13:27), so these venture to fulfill the apostle’s prediction, by scoffing at the doctrine of the advent. Well, these scoffers were to appear “in the last days,” and here they are. The wonder is that, in the face of the light in the fulfillment of signs and prophecies, they will venture to take the wrong side, fulfilling those parts of the prophecies which will tend to their own loss. Since we are all fulfilling prophecy, let us choose the right side of the great question at issue. Let us receive and impart the “meat in due season.” “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” R. F. C.