FEELING VS. GOD'S WORD by A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 30, 1880

FEELING VS. GOD'S WORD.

By A. S. Hutchins

BY ELD. A. S. HUTCHINS.

Many who would be shocked at the thought of holding in higher estimation their own feelings than the word of God do, nevertheless, in matters of religious faith and practice, often act more from the impulses of their own heart, than from the teachings of the Scriptures.

Were man left to the influence and power of his fallen nature to work out his salvation, we may easily determine, from Romans 1:21-32, as to the character he would form and the destiny he would meet.

In love to the world, and to secure the salvation of the penitent, God has revealed his will and established a public ministry to proclaim and bear it to the nations, tongues, and kings of the earth. Shall we honor and acknowledge the Author of this priceless Revelation by receiving it as the man of our counsel, and the unerring rule of our faith?

Shall not its divine instructions be heard above the voice of the people? Shall they not mould our religious sentiments and turn our feet into the “narrow” way of life, rather than trust to early education and tread the “broad” way of death? Shall not tradition with all its alluring errors bow before the word of inspiration, and by it be hewn in pieces as was Agag by the sword of Samuel?

Let the church of God awake from her slumbers and cry, The Bible, the Bible. Let her come forth from the wilderness, “leaning upon her beloved,” with her voice raised for Bible religion, Bible life, Bible hope, and strong confidence ultimately of Bible felicity. Let her awake in vindication of the law of the Lord, in defence of the down-trodden Sabbath, the rest-day of the Creator, blessed and sanctified, and given to man before sin had marred the Creator’s work.

Says David, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” In behalf of the Scriptures the apostle bears the following testimony: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Doctrine is the first thing specified for which the Scripture is said to be profitable. Amid the confusion of creeds and sentiments of religious bodies at the present time, we cannot look too closely to the word of God, or by it too thoroughly test our religious faith.

False sentiments may please and charm us, but they cannot convert the soul, nor secure to us eternal life. Said Christ, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” And again he prays in behalf of his disciples, “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” And it is a painful reflection that the apostle looked forward to the time when men would not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts should heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they should turn away their ears from the truth, and should be turned unto fables.

Says one man, Our business now is to convert the world, and if it shall prove that our theology is incorrect, we will settle that question when we get to Heaven. But I incline strongly to the opinion that Heaven will not prove the place to settle theological debates.

“For instruction in righteousness,” Paul affirms the Scripture is also “profitable.” As Christians we need “reproof,” “correction” and “instruction.” For these we are directed to the Scriptures. Not a word is said about taking our feelings as a sure guide.

What apology, then, shall be offered for those who have been soundly convinced from the Scriptures of their obligation to hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, been blest in acknowledging the claims of this ancient institution, and in keeping it unto the Lord, and yet, all at once, have a conviction come over them of the sacredness of the first day, so much as to lead them to sacrifice reason and judgment and the plain teachings of the Bible, and turn from the Sabbath of the Lord to the first day?

How will men and women, whose minds have been enlightened on this question to that extent they know the Bible enjoins no weekly Sabbath but the seventh day, meet the Judge and stand before him with no excuse for not obeying the commandment only that some dying friend had warned them never to leave the church of their early choice? And how will ministers meet the record of their lives, who have taught men to honor and keep as the Sabbath another day than God’s chosen rest-day, while they see the Bible contains no commandment to sustain them, and declare they want no command, and are satisfied without Scripture enjoining the observance of it?

A heavy responsibility rests upon the minister of the gospel. Oh, that it might be realized! The voice of the Master is, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.” Of the false prophets he says, “If they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.” Jer. 23:22.