WE claim, as Seventh-day Adventists, to cherish the belief that we are living in the last days of time, that the last generation of men are now dwelling upon the earth, and that the last message of warning is now being given. We also claim that this message is now far advanced in its progress, and that we are drawing very near its close. We point to the establishment of the present truth in the most important nations of the earth, its publication in various languages, and the extended attention it is already attracting, as marked evidences of the truthfulness of this position. It is not only generally known throughout our own great nation, but it is being promulgated in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Roumania, and Australia. It is being published in the leading languages of the world, and sent by means of ships to every part of the earth. These facts are so familiar that we need not enlarge upon them. This work is thoroughly organized in all departments. It is a unit everywhere. We are one people the world over, with a faith well defined and clearly understood. Early church distinctions, national prejudices and hatreds, and the effects of former education, all give way to the unifying influence of the truth of God for these last days; all barriers of this character are broken down before it. It has taken time, careful instruction, varied experiences, much study of the Scriptures, and a large degree of the Spirit of God, to bring about these precious results; and it will take watchfulness, devotion, and holy living to maintain them.
The great work now before us is to push forward the car of sacred truth in all directions. The preliminaries are accomplished, various obstacles are removed, the field is open; and if our people will now consecrate themselves, soul, body, and spirit, to the work, God will make them a mighty power for good. We shall then see very soon the triumph of the work. We need now the apostolic singleness of purpose, upon which God will bestow the power of his Spirit.
Here is our great lack to-day. Our people are not ready. There are many other things of deeper interest to them, pertaining to worldly comfort, wealth, pleasure, personal advancement, receiving honor one from another, etc. They are not ready to "give all for the field," or make the work of God the one great object before them. A few are ready to do this; but many are not. Here is our weak point, our greatest defect.
There never has been a year when the prospect was half as encouraging for the cause in Europe as in the present one. Our papers are being largely circulated, and colporters are obtaining many paying subscriptions. The tent-work has proved a success, which helps to solve the problem of reaching the people. Many hundreds in various countries have already accepted the whole truth. Our missionaries are learning the habits of the people and how to reach them. Our printing-house at Bâle is built and equipped, and will soon, if supplied with means, turn out the books and pamphlets and tracts needed in those various tongues, to sell and distribute among the people. Our printing-house at Christiania is approaching completion. Through the assistance of Elder W. C. White, plans are being formed to get our publications distributed. Valuable men there are being prepared for workers as printers, colporters, canvassers, and ministers. The people there, who are always suspicious of new things, especially when they come from America, are becoming more or less acquainted with our doctrines, as they find them based on Scripture, solid, sensible, and harmonious. The truth is bearing their acquaintance, and commanding their respect. It is not some notional, fanciful, excitable affair, but just the opposite. And, best of all, it is reaching honest souls who are hungering for the truth of God. Many are rejoicing in it, and are anxious to help all they can.
It would be the most preposterous folly to slacken our efforts at such a time as this. It would be a confession, that, "having begun to build, we were not able to finish." And more than that, it would be a virtual confession that we are mistaken in our application of prophecy, and that our work is a failure. For surely, if we have the last message of mercy to give to the world, we should never cease our efforts till the nations of the earth are warned.
We had every reason to expect difficulties at the beginning of our attack upon the long-entrenched errors prevailing in the Old World. Customs of society, old habits of thought and action, fenced in by caste and ignorance, and moss-covered with the growth of centuries, are not easily remoulded. Our Seventh-day Baptist brethren have made efforts in Europe from time to time, but have not had very great success. Our growth under the circumstances has been very encouraging. We have accomplished really more than we had any reason to expect when we take into account all the difficulties in the way, and the weak, uncertain efforts put forth. Our chances of success are now far better than heretofore. The beginning of such enterprises is always the most difficult and discouraging part of the work. Take, for example, the efforts of Christian missionaries among the heathen. Mr. Judson labored in Burmah, we believe, seven years before he made a single convert, and twice that time before he had more than a handful. Yet before he died, he had the sweet satisfaction of seeing some 30,000 Christians there. Similar experiences have been seen in other missions. Had those men ceased their efforts because of difficulties, our earth to-day would not be encircled with the light of the cross. Though the nations of Europe, where we are operating, are called Christians, yet obstacles of a similar nature meet us in our efforts to plant the present truth. But these we must overcome, and with the help of God we shall.
Why do not our men of means rally to the help of our missions? There is no lack of money among us to aid in pushing all these enterprises forward to success. There are a great many persons among us worth five, eight, ten, fifteen, twenty, and twenty-five thousand dollars, and upwards, even to one hundred thousand and more. Why do these persons consent to let our missions wade along in debt, struggling to maintain an existence, jeopardizing the salvation of souls, and endangering the prosperity of the precious cause they profess to love? We have pleaded personally with men who had thousands of acres of excellent land, and who said they had perfect confidence in every point of our faith, to help us sustain these missions; and so far as we knew, they would not give a dollar. We have pleaded with others who had thousands upon thousands of dollars' worth of property and thousands of dollars of money in their hands, yet who did but little better. We know of Seventh-day Adventists who build, or propose to do so, houses costing thousands of dollars, furnished with all the latest improvements, and finished with the greatest nicety and comfort, who never seem to think our missions are struggling in debt, and their prosperity endangered. Are our men of means living out their faith? Is not such conduct directly denying their faith? So we firmly believe. May God help us to think of these things as in the day of God we shall wish we had.