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DENYING THE FAITH

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 29, 1877

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 50, No. 22.

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DENYING THE FAITH.

By Roswell Fenner Cottrell

THE faith of those that search the prophetical scriptures and observe the signs of the times, is, that the coming of Christ is near, even at the door. Yet those who admit this all-important truth, are not all agreed in the manner of showing this faith by works. Some, who themselves like to live in goodly houses, think, when it is proposed to build meeting-houses and publishing houses, that it is a denial of the advent faith to do so; because it looks like providing for a long stay on earth. Others reason that if probation is to continue but a short time, the best way to exhibit this faith is to sacrifice time and means to get the truth before our fellow-men, warn them of their danger, and persuade them to accept of the last invitation of the gospel.
Those who care only for self, will be careful to save their means against a time of need, or to bequeath them to a following generation. They will not be likely to expend much in publishing the truth. Building houses for this purpose will look to them like a waste of precious means, and a testimony to others that we do not believe that time is so short.
It is true that means thus expended will be of use but a short time; but when probation shall close, and the great day of God come, shall we regret that our means have been expended in efforts to save men? Shall we then rather desire to have them hoarded in our own possession? Will not their rust for want of use, be a testimony against us in that day?
A free use of means in the cause of God is the best testimony that we believe that our time to do good and save souls is limited. The time in which we may labor will soon be past. The time when the “Well done” will be spoken to the faithful is at hand. The time is short in which we may glorify God in the use of time and means. When the work shall close, those who have invested in the cause of God will not regret the investment. Those who have faith in God may now lay up treasure in Heaven. The earlier we invest the more interest will accrue; and there is no fear of a failure: the bank will not break, nor fire consume it. Let us do our best to increase our stock.
R. F. COTTRELL.