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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 14, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 43, No. 18.

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By JOS. CLARKE

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Ex. 23:2.
“The voice of the people is the voice of God,” is an old heathen proverb; and although it is often true, yet it is far from being an unerring guide, especially upon religious matters, where it is oftenest wrong, as when it clamored for the life of Jesus and the freedom of Barabbas.
On the festival of Christmas you may see, in any large town, the papists flocking to church in crowds. This the Romanist would claim as an evidence of the divine favor toward the day. To this the Protestant would object; yet he uses the same evidence in favor of the papal Sabbath or Sunday. A poet has written thus:—
“What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This teach me more than hell to shun, That more than Heaven pursue.”
To suit the times, it might be thus read:—
What custom dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This teach me more than hell to shun, That more than Heaven pursue.
The fashion rules the style, and custom and precedent govern the life and form the code of morals for churches and people to a great extent.
This their way is their folly; yet their posterity approve their sayings. Ps. 49:13. Shall you and I, dear reader, be led by the voice of the people or the voice of God? Shall we be most intimidated by the thunders of Sinai, or by the thunders of the Vatican? Let us fear God and keep his commandments. JOS. CLARKE.