“Buy the Truth, and Sell It Not.”
— This was the theme of remarks by Brother H. E. Osborne, at the Tabernacle, Sabbath, September 7. The speaker stated that from his earliest experience with this people, listening to their preaching, and taking part in their social meetings, it was impressed upon him that their special characteristic is an inherent love for the truth, and an invincible determination to live it out. Then followed a Bible definition of what truth is. “Thy word is truth.” John 17:17. “Thy law is the truth.” Ps. 119:142. “All thy commandments are truth.” Ps. 119:151. A prophecy concerning the first advent of Christ says: “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Ps. 40:8. Christ says of himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” That is, He was a living exemplification of the law and all the commandments; the law was in His heart, and it was His delight to do God’s will. He was the personification of all truth. It was shown what it is to buy the truth. We have something to do to secure it. But the obligation, “Sell it not,” is just as imperative. Here an earnest appeal was made as from a young man to the young, not to sell the truth, as all will be more or less tempted, at times, to do. Do not barter it for worldly prospects,— wealth, ambition for place, power, or pleasure. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” The power of choice is committed to us. We can have what we choose; and if we make a mistake, the fault is ours alone. The spirit and steadfastness of the old pioneers in the cause were commended. “If the Lord be God, follow Him.”