THE GREAT STRUGGLE by S. M. Cobb

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 10, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 44.

THE GREAT STRUGGLE.

By S. M. Cobb

BY ELDER S. M. COBB.

IN the experience of both church and nation, throughout all the history of the past it has been demonstrated that history repeats itself. May we not look, therefore, for a repetition of past history in both our own time and nation?

A repetition of evil history comes because men depart from right principles, ignore justice and reason, seek to enhance their own glory and to sustain their own cause. But this is not as God designed. He designed that not only the laws of our own beloved country, but that the laws of all nations, should be based upon the broad principles of civil and religious liberty.

There are God-given rights which are granted to every individual. These principles are expressed in the Declaration of Independence, "that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights and privileges, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

There is a depth of meaning to these grand principles which but few realize. They are sacred to every lover of truth and freedom, and they have been so regarded by ancient worthies, whose lives and examples have been written out for our instruction, "upon whom the ends of the world are come."

Daniel's God-given rights were restricted when cruel and unjust laws were enacted, which prohibited him from worshiping God according to the dictates of his own conscience. God gave him the right to dissent from those laws, because they were averse to the principles of religious liberty.

Also in the experience of the three Hebrew worthies we see the same principles carried out; and though it cost them their lives, they could not for a moment make any compromise with that infuriated arbiter of unjust laws. Being conscious of their God-given right, they exercised that right, and persecution was the result, not because they deserved punishment, but because their manner of worship was not in harmony with the mind of the government.

But there is another thought connected with their experience which I will mention because it has a parallel in our own times. The king was not only asking them to worship as he worshiped, but was interpreting his god's will to them, and commanding them to accept his interpretation independently of their own judgment. Hence their refusal.

The same grand principle was also taught by Jesus himself; and because he conformed to those principles, he met opposition, and, like those already referred to, was persecuted. Jesus maintained his right to dissent, both from prohibiting his right to worship God as he chose, and from accepting their interpretation of Scripture, contrary to his conception of truth and duty.

Coming down to our own times, we find ourselves very similarly situated. After a period of nearly one hundred years of uninterrupted success as a nation, we see a storm cloud gathering which threatens to leave nothing but wreck and ruin in its path. As it

first appears, it seems to be no larger than a man's hand; but the low, distant muttering, and the rapidly increasing darkness, assure us that the storm is about to burst upon us in relentless fury.

We refer to the work of the National Reform Association, which was organized in 1863, whose chief object it was to so change the Constitution of this government as to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the rightful ruler of the nation. We quote article two of their constitution:—

The object of this society shall be to maintain existing Christian features in the American government, to promote needed reform in the family, the religious element in education, the oath, and public morality as affected by the liquor traffic and other kindred evils, and to secure such an amendment to the Constitution of the United States as will declare the nation's allegiance to Jesus Christ, and its acceptance of the moral laws of the Christian religion, and so indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our government on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.

The official organ of this society is the Christian Statesman, established in 1867, and published in Philadelphia. This association has, in a manner worthy of a better cause, both by voice and pen, sought to promulgate the foregoing principles.

But before denouncing the object of this organization, let us determine whether or not a change in the Constitution of these United States is necessary for the public good. The people of the United States ordained and established the Constitution "in order to form a perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to the people of this nation." To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, and whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to change or abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundations on such principles, and organizing its powers in such a form, as to effect the safety and happiness of the people.

But has the Constitution of this government been destructive of the best interests of the people?—By no means; but for their best and highest good. Why, then, the change?—Simply to effect such a transformation in the Constitution, to use their own words, as shall "indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our government on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the land," and thus, as a nation, acknowledge our allegiance to Jesus Christ, or, in short, to unite Church and State, a thing which has always been, and always will be, disastrous to both Church and State.

Would these principles of the National Reform Association form a perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, or secure the blessings of liberty to the people of this nation? To each and every question all history will answer, No.

And therefore we dissent from the measures advocated by this organization because it is our right and duty.

Were this association the only one whose existence and influence militated against the broad principles incorporated in the Constitution of our own beloved country, we should have but little cause for alarm. But more recent organizations have taken steps which place them in advance of the association above referred to, in the accomplishment of the union of Church and State. Among these we may mention the Prohibition party, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and the American Sabbath Union, together now with the coöperation of the Roman Catholic Church. This combination is zealously laboring to unite Church and State in this country, make an image to the beast, and enforce his mark, the Sunday sabbath.

It has been and is the duty of every lover of religious liberty to oppose the work and influence of these combinations, which have, for several years, been tending toward the evil thing that we see now so nearly accomplished.

It was to unmask the subtle working and deceptive influence of those various organizations that the American Sentinel appeared, about eight years ago. And it has, ever since that time, stood as a faithful sentinel to oppose every wrong, and in defense of a liberty-loving people, and of American institutions. Other publications have done a similar work.

In this movement will the prophecy of Rev. 13:15, 16 meet a perfect fulfillment. The cause of the persecution brought to view in the above scripture is presented in Rev. 12:17: "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." On the one side will be the mark of the Papacy, the false Sunday sabbath; on the other side, the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, the seventh day.

This solemn work is now in process of fulfillment, and, oh, how solemn the hour! Therefore, it is the right and duty of every true Christian to dissent from all of these unjust laws and movements, because they conflict with the law of God. But by dissenting we know we are beginning the struggle that will culminate in the last great deadly conflict between truth and error. And though we see the conflict before us, we cannot, no more than could the three Hebrew worthies, make any compromise with infuriated arbiters of unjust laws. Daniel's life was so perfect before God that his enemies could find no fault in him, except concerning the law of his God. So will God's remnant people be; and it is concerning their obedience to that law that they will be persecuted. But all through their struggles his eye, that never slumbers, is upon his people. He will enable them to fight the battle until they gain the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, and stand triumphant upon the sea of glass, having the harps of God, and singing the song of deliverance. Thus is the struggle ended, the victory is won, and God's people crowned with effulgent glory in his everlasting kingdom. Certainly it will pay, it does pay, to be on the right side.