The Cause Is Onward by Stephen Nelson Haskell

S. D. A. Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 10, 1884

FromThe Signs of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 2

The Cause Is Onward.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

THERE has been no time in the history of our work when the evidences were more manifest that God was with his people than now. In the political world everything indicates a great revolution. The Eastern Question, which has agitated the minds of the people for many years, has now reached a point when one step more and we shall see the fulfillment of Dan. 12:1, 2, 3.

The Sunday agitation in this country has gone too far for any compromise which would prevent the union of church and State in a very brief period of time. The cyclone, earthquakes, tidal waves, and floods, are bringing upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity. “Men’s hearts are beginning to fail them with fear for looking after those things that are coming on the earth.” Some say these things are indicative of the anger of God against the nations because they do not keep the first day of the week. The people in nearly every State are determined the Legislature shall do something on the question, while the more far-seeing men tell us the only remedy for the Sunday violation lies in the Constitutional Amendment, and therefore they are working to this end. Many of our people are beginning to realize that the end is near.

California, in investing about $35,000 for the education of young men and women to engage in the cause of God, has moved none too soon. Money is of no account when compared to the saving of souls, and those who now make large investments in this direction manifest true wisdom. It should never be a question, Will it pay in dollars and cents; but the question should be, Will it contribute to the salvation of souls for whom Christ died.

The brethren in New England, New York, and Pennsylvania, in addition to what they pledged to the foreign missionary work, have passed resolutions to raise in the aggregate a sum not less than $55,000, within one year, and about one-half of this has already been subscribed and quite a proportion paid. This is as it should be, for $50,000, raised in 1884 will be worth more than $500,000 five years from now.

It is now that we are to prepare for the final harvest. It is now, while peace is in our borders, while the laws are so favorable to our work, that we should not leave a stone unturned to scatter the light of truth until by tracts and periodicals the truth, will fall like leaves of autumn in every part of this land. We have now reached 1884, and what are we doing for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES—our pioneer sheet? At one time last year the paper reached a circulation of twenty thousand copies. This year it should not reach a circulation of less than fifty thousand, and this can be easily done if every Conference in the country work with courage and zeal in this respect.

The Sabbath Sentinel is sent forth to the different States to arouse our brethren if possible, and to notify the thousands who are sincere in the Sunday movement, of its nature and its final results. If there ever was a people on earth who should be awake it is Seventh-day Adventists. If there was ever a time when they should bring into exercise every power of their being and their talents of means, it is now, and those who cannot see the importance of this time, when such unmistakable evidences are increasing, need the pity of Heaven. It will be too much to expect that these efforts which are being put forth will accomplish their design without meeting with great obstacles. To carry forward this work successfully will require as much energy of character and earnestness of purpose as is necessary to carry forward any worldly enterprise. Those who

have purposed in their hearts to give themselves to God and to dispose of their means in the interests of his work will oftentimes find it difficult to do this; but with an intelligent zeal for God, we should make the circumstances instead of the circumstances making us. It may at times require a sacrifice on the part of those owning lands to effect a sale, but as we approach the great Jubilee, we see no reason why the same principle should not apply to us that applied to the children of Israel in reference to their property when they approached the year of jubilee. “The priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of jubilee, and it shall be abated from thy estimation.” See Lev. 27:18, 23, 24. This in some cases will be necessary, for it is no marvel that Satan will seek to hinder any effort in the living out of our faith in the near coming of Christ. Pledges made under the influence of the power and spirit of the truth of God are made sacred and good to the Father by the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. To consider those pledges of no account, would be to us a snare and bring upon us the frown of God. See Deut. 23:21–23. Prov. 20:25. Eccl. 5:4–6. Acts 5:1–11. But to faithfully perform the vows which we have made, and thus preserve our word with sincere integrity, will not only bring a blessing to the individuals themselves but to their families. See Jer. 35:18, 19, and Deut. 1:8–20. God is now selecting men for his service—men whose hearts are true, men who can be relied upon in the coming storm. Fair-weather Christians have ever been many, but tried men have been few. God now calls for tried men and women, those whom he can trust under any circumstances, those who will make any sacrifice rather than violate any principle of integrity on their part. Promptness is as necessary in divine things as in worldly enterprises. Satan is on the alert and “as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” He is a vigilant foe, not only watching the avenues of our hearts, that he may erect his throne there, but closely watching every effort that will tell for the advancement of the truth.

Plans should be immediately laid for the SIGNS to increase its circulation tenfold more than was accomplished in 1883. Let there be one united rally from one end of the land to the other; let there be a missionary effort put forth by those who are living alone in their neighborhoods; in short, let there be a general move for the advancement of the truth, and something will be accomplished. We look for greater victories the coming year than we have ever witnessed in the past. S. N. HASKELL.