PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 7, 1879

PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.

The following paragraphs we take from the Record and Evangelist (Disciple paper) Oskaloosa, Iowa, July 17, 1879. It must be supposed that they were written to set forth the condition of that church:—

—A word picture! Meeting-house on the open prairie—not a shade tree within a mile—house dilapidated—windows broken—door unhinged—seats but slabs from the saw-mill—no Sunday-school—no prayer-meeting—members worth $400,000—write “Ichabod” on the broken door, and leave it to its fate!

—A preacher, hitherto widely and favorably known, a man of eloquence and power in the pulpit, and of a pure and harmless life among his fellowmen, now lives in a cabin in the wilds of Arkansas,—driven there, as he thinks, by the wickedness of the last congregation he preached for! It is a fearful thing to crush out the spirit of a sensitive Christian. That congregation will have to face that heart-broken preacher in the day of Judgment.

—One thing is certain:—there must be a general awakening among the disciples of Jesus, or much will be lost! This awakening must come soon, or it will be too late! Our sins and indifferences swell to Heaven, and God will not much longer forbear!

—Oh! for a Nathan, or a Bourdeloue, to cry out day and night against the sins of the people of God! Robbing God by day and serving Satan day and night. Will the Lord have mercy on this wicked generation!

—Christ cleansed the temple in his day, and his church needs cleansing now. The covetous, prayerless, worldly, licentious professors must be cast overboard, to save the ship from sinking! God save the church!