p. 203 | What Think Ye? by N. Orcutt

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 13, 1871

“What Think Ye?”

By N. Orcutt

Two men are found guilty of theft or murder. One attempts to justify himself on the ground that the other has broken the law of the land. Would the civil law recognize the claim, and allow the individual to go unpunished?

Several soldiers, in battle, in the hottest of the fight, leave the place assigned them in the ranks, and go over to the enemy. One of them pleads the treachery of the others to justify his own lack of loyalty to his country's flag. Will the military authorities accept his plea, and, while his comrades die a traitor's death, adjudge him innocent?

An individual pleads the practice of professed Christians around him, as his justification for breaking the law of God and substituting the pope's Sunday for “the Sabbath of the Lord.” He says that “if others would, he should prefer to observe the seventh, instead of the first day.” Will the Sovereign of the universe, who “will bring every work into judgment,” and who will “reward every man according to his works,” accept any such plea, and award the priceless boon of eternal life to any but “them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality”?

Again, we find persons pleading the errors of those with whom they are associated in church capacity, as an excuse for their neglect of personal duty, their lack of attendance at the house of worship, or promptness in bearing testimony for the truth; or their failure to strive with redoubled energy to hold up the hands of the servants of God, while laboring under discouraging circumstances. Will our Heavenly Father smile approvingly upon such while they disobey him—disobey because others have done so before them?

While engaged in any secular enterprise, requiring concert of action and united effort, if one individual deserts his post, it requires no labored argument to prove the necessity of increased watchfulness and faithfulness and energy, on the part of those who are still to carry forward the work. Suppose ten men are engaged in raising the side of a frame, and two of them, before it is up, refuse to assist farther. What shall the other eight do? If they, too, cease their efforts, it will fall back, and they will be crushed beneath the timbers. If they labor together, each at his post, putting forth the strength that should have been exerted by the two that have deserted them, their efforts may be crowned with success. But without an extra effort, will they ever succeed?

Now, under like circumstances, what course shall those pursue who are engaged in a work of infinitely more importance than any secular enterprise man ever engaged in, the work of preparation in the kingdom of grace, to share in the ecstatic joys, the glorious reward that awaits the overcomer in the kingdom of glory? This is a work involving great individual responsibility, and is to be carried forward by associated effort. In both of these phases of our relation to the work, a mighty, persistent effort is indispensable to success.

What if others do fail, draw back, crucify the Son of God afresh, bringing a reproach upon the best of causes? Will that justify us in taking a like position, or pursuing a like course? Shall we not thus be judged worthy of, and receive, a like condemnation? How shall we escape this condemnation? how, but by doubling our diligence, by making up, as far as in us lies, the lack in consequence of the failure of others, and when they fall back, and the work goes hard, lift the harder? by standing by the servants of God and staying up their hands? by being with them at the house of worship? aiding them by our prayerful co-operation, in their every effort to advance the interests of the cause? by being instant in season and out of season, always, everywhere?

Dear brethren and sisters, “what think ye” of the times in which we live? of the conflict before us? and of the issue of that conflict? Is there danger in the way? How may we avert that danger but by the discharge of duty?

“Dare to do right! Dare to be true! Other men's failures can never save you; Stand by your conscience, your honor, your faith, Stand like a hero, and battle till death.”

“Dare to do right! dare to be true! Keep the great judgment-seat always in view; Look at your works as you'll look at them then, Scanned by Jehovah and angels and men.”

“Dare to do right! dare to be true! Jesus, your Saviour, will carry you through; City and mansion and throne all in sight, Can you not dare to be true and do right?”

N. ORCUTT.

Jamaica, Vt.