WHY IS GOOD REJECTED? by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 6, 1876

WHY IS GOOD REJECTED?

By Roswell F. Cottrell

Why is the light which tends to life, both in this world and that which is to come, rejected? When man's interest is appealed to, as well as his reason, why is he not ready to follow truth and live? The laws of his nature, the laws of life and health, appeal to him in like manner as does the Spirit of Inspiration, Why will ye die? Both are unheeded, and why?

Obedience to revelation and obedience to natural laws both call for self-denial. A change is required that seems a great expense. And not only must false and injurious appetites and passions be denied, but the established customs of society forbid it. One might deny himself of hurtful indulgences, but how can he bear the thought of walking contrary to his friends and neighbors? That is the difficult point. Society is running in certain ruts; and though he sees the evil, it seems too much to undertake the work of reform, for he sees no hope of correcting the evils in society; and therefore he will not undertake to lead out in the right way; and so he chooses to close his eyes to the light, and go with the multitude in the downward road to death. He wishes it were different—that all would do right. If every body else would choose the way to life, he would. And so he waits for the world to get right, and does not lift a finger to get them right. He would go the right way, if all would; but the mass are in the road to death, and he thinks he can but go with them.

What the world wants is reformers. They need strong hands to lift them out of the false grooves of fashion, and set them in the right way. To do this requires those who will follow the truth, though they have to stand alone. They must advance from the rank and file, though they be exposed to the shots of those who fear to advance. But such have real worth, and will finally reap a rich reward.

R. F. COTTRELL.