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Custom and Conscience

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 42, No. 15.

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Custom and Conscience.

By R. F. Cottrell

CUSTOM seems to be stronger than conscience. The judgment being convinced by the most explicit testimony, in vain the appeal is made to conscience to adopt a course of conduct that is contrary to custom. This is the case with multitudes of seemingly good people and professed Christians. They profess to follow the teachings of the Bible; but the plainest revealed requirement of duty is of no effect, if it be contrary to the custom of the times in which they have received their education. Take the Sabbath as an example. God says, The seventh day is the Sabbath; custom says the first; and tradition says it is so, because Christ arose on the first day of the week. To obey God is out of fashion, and his word, reason, and conscience plead in vain.
In answer to the question, Are there few that be saved? Jesus replied, Strive to enter. . . . Many shall seek to enter, but shall not be able. He also teaches that many will be disappointed in the coming day; will come to that time self-deceived, and instead of a welcome, will hear the word, Depart. And as in the plan of salvation as revealed, repentance of sin and obedience to God’s commandments is made a condition, it is not wonderful, viewing men as they are, that the number of the saved should be very small. We do not see how men are to be saved, according to the revealed plan, without repentance. No doubt God is merciful to the ignorant and the erring; but when men read their duty in his word in the plainest terms, and then, because custom is averse, go directly contrary to that word, we do not see how they can be saved, and at the same time God’s word be vindicated, and his government honored. And yet men, seemingly good men, hope to be saved going with the multitude, whether right or wrong.
Awake, O conscience! and assert the right. Let the word of God be honored, if it be at the expense of custom and gray tradition. Men’s souls are in jeopardy! Let them be aroused and listen to the voice of conscience, a conscience enlightened by the word of truth. If all that know what God requires would do it, multitudes would be converted to the truth. To teach men what is truth and duty is but a small task compared with that of persuading them to do as well as they know. Many are very ignorant of the Bible, and want enlightening. But with many, it is not light that they need so much as the Spirit of truth to move them to action.
Oh! that God would pour his Spirit upon his servants, that their labors may be effectual in saving some from coming self-deceived to the Judgment!
Brethren, we have the truth, the “present truth”—the truth for the present time. But it is a baptism into the sanctifying power of the truth which we need and must have, in order to awaken and save men. Theoretical arguments are good in their place, but without the awakening power of the Spirit of God to arouse the conscience, and move men to action, all will be in vain; and men will go on indulging a vain hope that they are approved of God, while disobeying his word, till the Judgment shall undeceive them, tearing away the flimsy vail that has covered them, and instead of, “Come, ye blessed,” which they fondly hope to hear, with consternation they listen to the tremendous words, “Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.”
O my soul, what will be thy portion in that day? Wilt thou save thyself and those that hear thee? or will custom rule, conscience be smothered, and the blood of souls be found on thy garments? Help, Lord, help! and save helpless souls that are sinking to everlasting ruin. R. F. COTTRELL.