THE BACKSLIDER by Albert Stone

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 25, 1877

THE BACKSLIDER.

By Albert Stone

The backslider needs the pity and earnest prayers of the people of God. Gradually and imperceptibly to himself, he has departed from God, until he is as one who is without God and without hope in the world. In time past he has borne fruit; but now he is a withered branch, and it is uncertain how long he will be permitted to cumber the ground. God pities him and says, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you.” The Lord Jesus loves him, and includes him in that kind declaration, “Whosoever cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” The Holy Spirit, though often slighted and resisted, still whispers kindly in his ear, inviting him to return to his Father's

house, and make peace with an offended God. Guardian angels look pensively on, and then consult together how they may help him.

Alas, dear guilty one! what of all these surroundings, added to which, perhaps, are the prayers and tears of a beloved mother, who now sleeps in death, and who died in the fond hope that she should meet her child on the evergreen shore in the glorious morning of an eternal day? Shall she be disappointed? Shall that fond hope never be realized? What caused your faith to flag and your feet to stumble? Were you interested in the advent doctrine, and disappointed because the Lord did not come in “’44”? So was I. But I did not see in that any reason why I should fall into feebleness, and die spiritually, as some seemed to do.

The disappointment was a severe test to the waiting people of God, as was the crucifixion of Christ to the disciples. Nothing was plainer than that Christ should die and rise again; but the disciples did not thus understand it. And what is more certain than that the vision should tarry? Yet the Adventists overlooked that plainly revealed truth, and, as a consequence, were disappointed. All received a shock. Some recovered sooner, some later, and some are yet living among the pots with the accumulated rust of a quarter of a century upon them. Some took their own way to get out of the difficulty, and their troubles increased. Others sought the way pointed out in the word of God, and their difficulties vanished.

In all these apparently mysterious things, important points in the word of God were being fulfilled; and when this is seen the way is plain. The third angel's message is what clears up all the apparent mysteries connected with the passing of the time. Like the rising sun this now began to reflect rays of light to cheer the hearts of the desponding ones. The third angel is doing his work in exact accordance with the word of prophecy. A gradually increasing light has marked his pathway. To-day, thousands are rejoicing in this light, and the number is daily increasing. This truth is meat in season. This is the polar star that invites the attention of all at this time. This is the lighthouse at the port of entry of the heavenly city.

The work of this angel is now fully inaugurated; and a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. Truth and error are in deadly conflict, in mortal combat, on a scale unparalleled in the past. On every continent, in every country, the roll-call of God's last message is heard, and responded to. The Lord's messengers are on the alert, and the enemy's camp is stirred.

Old and young, male and female, volunteer as helpers in this work, and the light of truth is being borne in every direction. And it is not borne in vain: it is responded to from every quarter of the earth. All Christendom is stirred as never before. God is preparing the hearts of the people everywhere to hear and decide on this truth.

God is hearing the prayer of his people to raise up and send forth laborers into his harvest. Young men, strong in the faith, are coming into the King's ranks, to bear the sword of truth against the common enemy. Young women, too, by scores, are going forth into the moral darkness of the world, bearing the light of truth, as missionaries of the tract enterprise. Men and women grow pale with labor, and presses groan night and day as they throw off countless sheets laden with just what the people need and call for.

Now, my backsliding friend, by whatever means you have been induced to leave the narrow way, or however long or short may have been the period of your wanderings, you are earnestly invited to consider your ways. Can you afford to miss Heaven? I repeat, Can you afford it? Are you proof against the artillery of Heaven? or have you power to beat back the plagues of the Almighty? Hear the voice of entreaty before it is too late. Break up the fallow ground of your heart. Rend your heart, and return unto the Lord with weeping and bitter lamentation. ALBERT STONE.