p. 5 | FIENDISHNESS by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 9, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 15.

FIENDISHNESS

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

HERE is a horse at the bottom of a hill, with a load as great as he can possibly draw on a level road. Every particle of strength that the poor horse has is exerted to draw the load on the smooth, level road; but, notwithstanding that, the merciless driver plies the lash with all his might, to try to compel the horse to draw it up the hill, a thing which is impossible. Could anything be more wickedly cruel? If the horse had sufficient strength, a little application of the lash would incite him to use it, but it can not impart any strength to him. Whipping a horse never adds to his strength; and so to whip a horse to make him do that which he has no strength to do, is fiendishness. Who would not feel indignation at such cruelty?

Here is a man who is “without strength” to do that which is right. That weakness he shares in common with all men, “because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:7. No man is stronger than Christ was, and he said, “I can of mine own self do nothing;” “the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” John 5:30; 14:10. And now a company of men associated together in some capacity, decide that that man shall be compelled by all the pains and penalties of civil law, to serve the Lord. They will bring all the machinery of government to bear upon him, to compel him to do that which is utterly

beyond his power. If the other is true, fiendishness, what is this?

Ought not the man to do right?—Yes. Does not God require him to do right?—Most certainly. Then why is it wrong for his fellow-men to try to compel him to do what the Lord requires him to do?—Simply because the Lord himself does not seek to compel man to do that which is right. He knows that that would be of no use. He knows that man has not the power, and so he himself supplies the power that the man needs. He comes and works in the man, “both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Surely God’s way is infinitely above man’s way. E. J. W.