Testimony No. 23 and Elder White's Address
By George I. Butler
Testimony No. 23, and Bro. White's Address.
A MULTIPLICITY of labors have hitherto prevented me from speaking in regard to this Testimony. But I shall not feel satisfied unless I say a few words in regard to it. Being one of those who firmly believe these Testimonies to be from God, I feel a great interest that they should be read by our people, and carefully considered. If it be granted that God is giving us light from Heaven in regard to the duties and dangers of the present hour, the importance of our considering it well cannot be overestimated. Here is where many of our people act, it seems to me, very inconsistently. They profess to believe the Lord is speaking to us as a people, and their actions show that they care very little about it. Such are self-condemned. This last warning from the Lord sets before us our peculiar dangers in the plainest light. These dangers I know exist among us. We are in the lukewarm state, brought to view in the Laodicean church of Rev. 3. While we should be the most zealous church existing on the earth, or that has existed for eighteen centuries, we are mostly asleep; and when we do receive a warning, either directly from the Lord, or from those whom the Lord has called to act as watchmen, we appear very much like a person in a dozy, stupid state. We make some efforts to arouse, only to sink down again, and close our eyes once more. How does our zeal compare with the apostolic church? They sold farms, and everything, for the purpose of helping forward the work of God. They made themselves poor for the sake of the cause. They sacrificed life itself, to spread the light of truth abroad. Where is the man who would think of selling off his forties, and eighties, to put into the cause of God now? Possibly there may be a few. But they are rare. Who would think of seeing his property going out of his hands now for such a cause, with the prospect of his being left a poor man, in this world's goods, when he could really trust in God for the blessings of life? Such a man would be called a hare-brained fanatic. And yet that was precisely what the early church did. Who now would think they could bear stripes, imprisonment, stoning, or crucifixion, as the early Christians were sure to receive? It never enters our minds that it would be possible. We who are ministers are very much in danger of feeling that the cause of God is greatly beholden to us if we labor for it merely as worldly men do for worldly objects. Can any man give a good reason why S. D. Adventists, with the faith they hold, should not be as zealous as the apostolic church? The latter had a lifetime before them in which to do their work. Time was to continue for many centuries. How different now! Shortly, the trump of God will sound, and probation will be closed. Our property will be destroyed, and ourselves with it, if our treasure is here. And it certainly will be here, unless we transfer it to the other world by noble acts of charity and sacrifice in God's cause before that day shall burst upon us. A world lying in wickedness awaits that grand consummation. Shall our efforts save them? Or shall our supine indifference leave them to ruin? Every consideration proves to a thoughtful mind that we should be as earnest as the apostles themselves. How far we come short of it. We are so apt to compare ourselves with fallen Babylon around us, and flatter ourselves we are pretty well off if doing as well or a little better than they, that we are in danger of being rejected as they are. A much better plan would be for us to compare ourselves with some church which we know God has accepted. Our coldness and apathy would then be apparent. This Testimony to the Church is just the thing we need at this hour. Shall we heed it? or shall we excuse ourselves, and flatter ourselves that, after all, we are not in much danger? One sentence in particular has struck my attention as most weighty. “Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime, and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God.” Page 40. This is a great crisis. Most people are asleep to it as much as they were in the days of John the Baptist. Now things are shaping to bring about results upon which the eternal destinies of millions will turn. This will be seen by all, by-and-by. But those who profess to be God's children should be able to see it now, and act wisely. If they will ponder this Testimony it will aid them greatly to come to right conclusions. We advise, we entreat, all to do so. With the Address of Bro. White in the latter part of this pamphlet, we are in the fullest sympathy. We are not ignorant of the fact that he has laid out before us an immense amount of work. Neither do we believe mere human agencies can ever accomplish it alone. And when we see the burdens piling up ahead of us, it is enough to appall the stoutest heart, if we look merely to human instrumentalities. But we believe God is in this work, and one poor, weak soul on the side of God, and his truth, is in the majority. If we can get humble and devoted enough to avail ourselves of his almighty strength, we need not fear the greatest burdens. We believe in a God who never forsakes those who really trust in him. And more than this, he loves to have us expect great blessings at his hand. He does not want us to think he can only give those common blessings which we might, perhaps, get along without. We believe God has a special work for these last days, and that work must go to “peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” It is world-wide. These plans of Bro. White seem to be in harmony with such a work. Of course, it will cost us some effort and some money to carry them out. But does any one suppose this cause is going to accomplish the work the Lord has said it should, without these? Did not the first proclamation of the gospel cost these? Has not his truth in every age? If we have not a faith that embraces these means, our faith amounts to very little. It is in just such things as these that the character of our faith is determined. For one, I have made up my mind to labor in this work, while I labor at all, in harmony with such plans as those which I believe God has put into the mind and heart of his servant to bring out before his people. We never shall accomplish anything till we labor with some definite object in view. God will bless us in proportion to the amount of the intelligent faith which we possess. Murmurers and grumblers will, of course, have much to say. Our feelings toward them should be of pity and sorrow that they have no more wisdom, and that they are standing in danger of eternal ruin. But all the grumblers in the world cannot stop God's work if the true believers will move forward, trusting in the Arm which is mighty to save all who really rely upon God and live up to the truths of his word. The willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land. I mean to be one of them, poor and weak as I am. Let us take up the good, rallying cry, “Courage in the Lord,” and move on to final victory. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Oct. 24, 1873.