p. 133 | Endless Discussions by E. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 8, 1872

Endless Discussions.

By E. F. Cottrell

The great and gracious plan of salvation is simply and plainly revealed in the Bible. The revelation is adapted to the capacity of ordinary humanity. There are plain and easily understood facts for our faith, and as plain commands for our obedience. And there are exceeding great and precious promises for our encouragement, which mean just what they promise; and how much more than we can conceive and realize, we cannot tell; but as far as we are able to comprehend them, they mean just what they say.

But it is a sad fact, that men instead of accepting the simple plan as it is revealed, have puzzled their minds and busied themselves in speculating and theorizing on the subject, and in striving to persuade others to adopt their fancies in the interpretation of the sacred word, and to have an experience exactly corresponding to their own. So endless disputes have been the order, and still are—“fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying.” How much ink has been shed to no good purpose, and breath wasted, in hair-splitting theorizing upon the nature of God and man, and upon the means and terms of salvation. How much better to accept the plan, believe the facts, and obey the requirements.

It is plain that obedience must be the obedience of the heart. “Son, give me thy heart.” “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.” “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” All may understand, if they will, that unless there is a surrender of the whole heart, an entire consecration of all to God, and a guileless character formed, we shall fail of the grace that will prepare us for the sinless society of Heaven. Why not let it rest there; and try to make this consecration ourselves, and help others to do so; and let the disputes about the different theories of sanctification rest in peace? The great truth has been made plain and urged in the Testimonies. Let all accept it and live it out, and give the disputed theories to the wind. The peculiar theories that some have imbibed, and which they think so necessary, add no new light to the testimonies from the Spirit of God. It is no new idea that the people who will have a part in the closing work of the last message and be translated at the coming of Christ, must be a holy people. It is not our view of it that we want, but the thing itself, let all be assured, they must have. E. F. COTTRELL.