Why Will ye Die? by A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1875

Why Will ye Die?

By A. S. Hutchins

LOOKING forward to the ultimate consequences of sin, the inspired penman raises the question, “Why will ye die?” Life is a priceless gift from our Creator. In its fleeting moments we may glorify our Maker by observing his laws, and thus we may secure life eternal. Vast consequences are suspended upon its proper use, both with regard to ourselves, and to those with whom we associate. This period is, and must at longest, necessarily be brief. The irrevocable decree, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” is speedily executed upon the generations of men. Yet thousands cut these flying moments short, and hasten the footsteps of death to their doors. The force of habit, gratification of appetite, and wading through the ever-changing, and ever-crushing style of popular living, bring disease, and welcome death in its sure and destructive march.

Ignorance of those laws which relate to life is sure to lead to their violation. And many seem not to care to enlighten their minds in this direction. Their motto seems to be, “Give us a good time;” “a merry life, though it be short.” Here, we ask, Why will ye die? For truly may it be said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” “He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.” Prov. 8:36.

Another way in which death is speedily brought up into our windows is a lack of knowledge of the nature of some of the most common diseases, and of the treatment necessary for those suffering under them. I think of a case which may serve as an illustration. A patient, sick for days with typhoid fever, was treated hygienically by judicious nurses, and though doing well, some one who seems to think one can hardly be sick legally, or die honorably, unless attended by a physician sure to give drugs, became anxious for the doctor’s presence. He was summoned, came and pronounced favorably as to both the treatment and the patient, saying she had had good nursing, which is better and more important than medicine; yet he thought it best to administer some medicines. The nurses, taking good courage, and preferring no mixture of drugs with hygienic agencies, laid them aside. The doctor repeated his visits, each time expressing his gratification, if not surprise, that his medicines acted (?) in a manner so highly favorable. Now, for days without the presence of the physician, or the use of drugs, the patient continued hopeful and bade fair for recovery. But a slight change takes place arousing the fears of the fearful, and now certainly the doctor must come. He prepared a powerful dose, fed it himself, and awaited its action, or rather, the action of the system to resist the poison. The poor patient sunk to the grave in a few days, if not under the power of the poison administered, under circumstances strongly justifying the conclusion that it may be so, the conclusion strengthened by the decision of a prudent and experienced practitioner, that that dose was a hazardous one, one too strong for a well stomach. Oh! when will men learn to “let well enough alone?” When will they learn to cease feeding rank poison to help nature in her work of resisting disease and restoring wasted energies? As we reflect on the above case, we raise the inquiry, “Why will ye die?”

A. S. HUTCHINS.