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Our Influence

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 25, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 42, No. 24.

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Our Influence.

By Jos. Clarke

The mixed multitude that came up out of Egypt with the Israelite host were those of the Egyptians who were so affected by the terror of the plagues that they, in the excitement of the hour, were compelled to acknowledge the power of God; and they, without due care and deliberation, and without any adequate idea of the character of God, and the purity and strictness of his law, cast in their lot with the people of God. And it was not till they had crossed the Red Sea, and encamped on the barren desert, that they discovered their mistake; but it was too late to return. The die was cast. Without any spiritual discernment, and reckless of the future, their minds reverted to the past. The fertile valley of the Nile arose before their minds in strong contrast with the arid waste before them, and now they keenly felt the apparent loss. A terrible homesickness seized them, and there, in their tents, away on the barren desert, they bewailed their sad lot. This disease, like the plague, spread among the people until nearly all the elect host, which had so recently praised God for his wonderful goodness in defending them from the Egyptian plagues, and in leading them through the Red Sea, joined in the sad wail of sorrow.
Satan and his wicked host were abroad in those tents, and they stirred up the minds of the disaffected, while they were suffering the pangs of homesickness, to complain against their leaders, and they, with one voice, deprecated life itself, and said, Would to God we had died in Egypt.
Destitute of faith in God, who had proved his goodness and love and power and wisdom, they saw nothing but ruin before them. How could such a host exist upon the desert? Where were the supplies to come from?—not a day's provision in store, no water for man or beast, how could the millions, encamped upon that barren, rocky desert, pursue their march to the goodly land? Surely, they would perish, and their bones would bleach upon the moving sand, and the winds would howl a lonely requiem upon their desert grave. In the sad reminiscences of the past, Satan, with his host, came in, and strongly urged return to the gardens of the Nile, and mutiny and rebellion against the noble man God had chosen and appointed leader.
Hunger and thirst and direful forebodings now are felt by almost all; and still the influence spreads, until many of the best and purest feel its power. Moses, full of faith, withstands the roar of the storm of popular fury and complaint. His eye surveys the whole scene with calmness. Above the mad, senseless tempest of passion, he views the hand of the Almighty, who can still the tumults of the people. He who could part the restless and treacherous waters of the sea, and hold them up in mountain walls while his chosen pass through, can surely feed them and quench their feverish thirst. Serenely he looks to God, who has never failed him.
The mixed multitude are finally quieted for a time. Manna from Heaven, and water from the rock, satisfy the sterner demands of nature, but the carnal heart is yet unsubdued. No deep, thorough, soul-converting power has passed through that mixed throng. They, with carnal eyes, have viewed the miracles performed in their behalf; and everything by them is weighed in the scale of human probabilities. No soul-transforming influence has passed upon the mixed multitude. Often, as new trials arise, the same scene is re-enacted, and Moses is grieved, and God is insulted, until at last Moses becomes impatient, and sins against God; and Aaron, in his weakness and weariness, goes to great lengths in his desire to please the people, and enters into their idolatrous worship. Oh! that good men could always withstand the evil influence of the mixed multitude, that has ever hung upon the rear of God's army.
Everywhere and in all ages, the church on earth has had to contend with the baleful, poisonous influence of unconverted members, who, with unconverted, corrupt hearts—having crept into the church, or having been deceived in regard to themselves, have honestly joined the people of God—have settled down in carnal security, and see no necessity for further progress or for a reconstructing, regenerating power in their cases. They see no particular defect in their title to the heavenly inheritance, nor do they see or care to see the sandy foundation upon which they build; and present cares, employments, and pleasures, so engross their minds that they ignore deep heart work, and sleep when they should watch and pray. Such are the mixed multitude which has ever cursed the church of God upon the earth. The papal church is but a sample of the kind of work such an influence as we have described would naturally create; and the present condition of Protestant churches on this continent, and throughout the enlightened world, is an example of the same kind, clearly showing the influence of worldly professors, who finally drag to perdition their brethren and their ministry.
A pure church, in order to remain pure, must not allow itself to be burdened by a mixed multitude, nor must it invite a promiscuous throng; and an impure church must not only reconstruct its creed, but its membership.
If such a noble man as Moses is thrown off his balance by the influence of a mixed multitude, who is safe from such an influence? Truly, we live in a world of dangers, and as humanity has degenerated since Moses' time, and sin has accumulated strength, dangers increase; and the people of God have need of greater vigilance and care.
Entire separation from the world is the condition of eternal life. A whole, a voluntary, offering, a pure, a clean, heart God requires; and surely, no one is hurt by this principle. On the contrary, it is the only hope of man. Were God less pure, his government would be insecure, and his promises uncertain.
No sane man would wish to enter Heaven unprepared, or with a character spotted in the least. No greater kindness can be shown to mankind than for the church to free itself from the mixed multitude by marching steadily on and leaving the murmurers behind.
Jos. Clarke.