Duties and Trials of our Position.
By A. Hale
In all the great transactions of the Deity in reference to our race, he has seen fit to make known to his people more or less of the plan on which he intended to proceed; and he has seen fit also to hold every one responsible, to whom he has made it known, whose opportunities and capabilities have brought them under its claims, for a compliance with that plan. And it must be evident that the fate of all those who are under this responsibility must be decided by the bearing of the plan upon their agency, and their compliance or noncompliance with its claims. The word of God contains abundant illustrations, and proofs of these propositions. The plan of the Deity in the destruction of the old world was made known to Noah, and through him to the world; a compliance with the warning on his part saved himself and his house, the world disregarded it and were "condemned." So was it in the deliverance from Egypt. "For some when they had heard, did provoke; howbeit, not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? so we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." The final rejection of the Jews as a people is repeatedly ascribed to their ignorance of, and their unwillingness to submit, to the plan of God in the case as it was made known in his word. Now all these cases, with others, are distinctly referred to for our admonition. In effecting the great deliverance before us, God has fixed his plan; that plan he has made known to us, and he will hold us responsible for a compliance with it:— "But take ye heed: behold I have foretold you all things. Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my word shall not pass away."—Mark xiii, 23, 31. "Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth."—Rev. i, 3; iii, 10. In determining the question of our duties and trials we must be guided by the word of God.—According to the view we have taken of our position, as indicated both by the line of events, and by the appointed time which brings us to the end, the judgment scene must be right upon us. If this be the case, our duties and trials must be like those allotted to the people of God at that point. What then does the word of God declare in reference to the duties and trials of his people at that time? It is admitted that Christ has "foretold," in a variety of forms, the condition of the world, the condition of the nominal church, and the condition of the true people of God, at and near the time of the second advent; and in all these cases the duties and trials of his people are brought to view by direct announcement or necessary inference. The discourse of the Saviour, recorded by Matthew, (xxiv, xxv,) Mark, (xiii,) and Luke (xxi,) furnishes both an illustration of the danger, by what has been fulfilled, and a view of the last experiment which remains, and which is to fall to our lot, upon whom the end of the world is to come. He has here sketched the history of his people, in their relation to the world and the professed church, from his own day down to the end; and each point in the outline to which he has called attention as a prominent waymark, indicates a change in their labors and trials. When Jerusalem should be encompassed with armies, they must "flee to the mountains;" when "hated of all nations," "in your patience possess ye your souls;" when the gospel was to "be preached as a witness to all nations," the people of God must of course do it; when "the signs," which were to indicate that the Son of Man was near, should be seen, they were to make these signs reduce the lessons to practice, which they were intended to teach, and lift up their heads and rejoice, knowing that their redemption drew nigh; (and this beyond dispute was to produce the movement of "the virgins which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom;") when the cry was made, "Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him!" they "arose and trimmed their lamps, and went forth to meet him." Here are the waymarks which the Saviour has given us, and every one of them marks a change in the special duties of his people. Those who have taken heed to what he "foretold" have been found acting in harmony with his word at each successive step. The nominal church and the world, while they have disregarded the word of God, have nevertheless fulfilled it so as to exhibit the waymarks, though they have not been found in the condition of the true people of God. When these were hated of all nations, the nominal church preferred to cherish that hatred rather than expose herself to its vengeance, in all those nations where the true disciples were found. When the work of preaching the gospel came, and the nominal part of the church found they could not stand aloof from it, instead of considering it in its true light—a proof that "the end" was near, they made it the basis of their argument, that the end could not come for a thousand years. When the signs were pointed out by the "faithful and wise servants," the "evil servants" of the nominal church began to smite them and to say, My Lord delayeth his coming. When the great Advent movement came, those who participated in it only in name, or in a half-hearted manner, were unprovided with the indispensable means of success; and when they were aroused by the cry, while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. In all these cases the word of God has marked the work and trials of his people; those who were nominally his people, only, acted with or against them as policy or expediency dictated. Those who were raised up to strike out the new channel were aided only by Almighty power, or they could not have succeeded. After it was opened, perhaps, the waters of the whole ocean might have swelled the new current that poured into it. But the views as well as the motives of the devout movers in the work were forgotten by their professed followers; the former acted for God, the latter because it was popular. However, in every experiment of this acting of principle and of policy, the word of God has been more fully verified. And how could we expect that those who did not bow implicitly to its claims should have acted the part of his people. Let us beware that we do not savor the things that be of men, no matter who they are, and not the things that be of God. What, now, has the Saviour foretold, of the condition of things by which we are enabled to determine the duties and trials of his people as they approach the hour of their redemption? Leaving all disputed portions out of the question, unless every thing is to be disputed rather than to admit its most obvious bearing upon our position, we will consider a few of the plainest portions of the word of God. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left; two shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken and the other left. Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.—Matt. xxiv, 38—44; see also Luke xvii, 26—37. Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning; Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.—Mark xiii, 35—37. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares; for as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.—Luke xxi, 34—36. These words of the Saviour exhibit to us, 1. The condition of mankind generally, to whom the warning has been given; 2. The dangers of the people of God; and 3. The duties by which they are to guard against them. To give us a living picture of the state of our fellow-men at the time of the advent, he cites us to the old world and to Sodom. And to these, Peter also refers in warning us against the "false teachers who shall be among you, as there were false prophets among the people" of God of old.—2 Peter 2d and 3d chapters; see also Jude. Shall we linger for a moment over the scenes to which we are thus cited? There is the earth as it came from the hands of its Creator, almost unmarred by the recent curse. There are the men whom he created in his own image and to whom the earth was given to use and enjoy as Wisdom and Goodness saw to be for their highest good. But the whole purpose of the Creator is defeated: God looks upon the earth, and behold, it is corrupt; for all flesh have corrupted his way upon the earth. The earth is filled with violence. It can be perpetrated only by destroying its corruptors. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But the righteous must be saved: Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The warning is given to Noah; the means of salvation provided; the work appointed and the time set for the work of judgment to begin. The preparation of the ark goes on, and its builder becomes at the same time "a preacher of righteousness." The warning and the work to which it gives rise spread far and wide over the whole earth. Philosophy speculates—hypocrisy deplores—profanity curses—infidelity derides—curiosity wonders—wit and mirth are boisterous over the new and fruitful theme; serious thoughtfulness is everywhere borne down by unbelief and triumphant depravity. The appointed time at length arrives—the ark is completed. God is careful only to save the righteous—to honor faith in his word. And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark: for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.50"And they went in as God commanded him, and the Lord shut him in." The world's day is now over—soon the wide-sweeping deluge buries the earth, and all flesh is destroyed. Shall we also notice the case of Sodom? Here are the angels of God at the tent door of Abraham, on their way to make inquisition about the cry that had come up from Sodom. And the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" The doom of Sodom is no sooner made known than all the yearnings of the Patriarch's soul are poured out "before the Lord." The angels have gone on their way while Abraham is pleading. With the exception of Lot, Sodom is found to be a copy of the old world; and its destruction is announced to Lot. He is permitted to give a hasty warning to his connections, but it is received only as a mockery. The work of destruction cannot begin till the righteous are secured, they are hastened in their flight from the doomed city, and commanded to escape to the mountains, to tarry not in all the plain, nor look behind them. The storm of fire is gathered, and as the cries of despair rise up from Sodom, they are stifled by its suffocating flames. When the storm has passed, Sodom is no more. "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Now if this were all the light that has been given upon the close of this world's drama, what success could we expect as the result of our labors in warning the world? Must we not suppose that with few rare exceptions they would be entirely fruitless? In the very nature of the case it must be that both the warning and its agents are to be held in the highest contempt. But when we are given to understand that it is "when they shall say peace and safety," that sudden destruction cometh upon them—that the day shall overtake them as a thief—that as a snare it shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth; that world-mindedness and unbelief will become so prevalent that there will be but little faith on the earth, when the Son of Man cometh, it is not possible that anything like a successful effort can be put forth by the believers of the word of God immediately before the end. Indeed, I know not of any intimation that such an effort is authorized by the word of God at that time in behalf of the world. Blessed is the faithful and wise servant, who shall then be found giving meat to the household of the Lord; not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching; brethren if any of you do err from the truth, he that converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death. These portions bring to view the special social duties of the people of God at the end. Before that final position is taken, the preacher of righteousness will have given his warning, and all the elements of human nature will have responded to the alarm, but all will be hushed again to a more deadly repose than ever. The yearnings of the friend of God will have been poured out before him to spare and save—the most impassioned and affectionate entreaties of friends will have been rejected with scorn, and every thought of danger will have been banished away by pride and luxury and gain, till an allusion to the hated warning will hardly excite interest enough to call forth a very serious curse. The word and people of God will be distinguished only as the objects of unqualified indifference and contempt. And then everything like a permanent interest in this world, and all sympathy with it are to be given up by the people of God: Take heed to yourselves; beware even of the cares of this life; no lingering wish can be allowed to turn their eyes towards it with safety. The great and awfully expressive lesson for them at that time is thus stated: Remember Lot's wife! Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it! Their faith, their deadness to the world, their patience, their steadfastness and perseverance, are to be tried to the utmost; not, however, by violent persecution, nor by exposure to outward suffering, but by the prevailing spirit of world-mindedness—by the spell of indifference to the truth of God that will settle down upon the world. So much so, that it will be with the utmost difficulty that any sense of the truth can be kept alive in the believer's heart: "For in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. Watch, therefore, lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." So intense will be the trial—so painful the suspense—that the rejoicing of the hope will have well nigh departed from their hearts. This is most clearly "the fiery trial which is to try you;" and those only who endure to the end shall be saved. Not to refer to numerous other portions which might be cited, these are sufficient to show us the plan on which God intends to proceed in closing up our earthly and mortal state. Whether we have arrived at a point when we should look for these marks in our case, is another question. But this is the plan of God, and to this his people must accommodate themselves, when it goes into effect, or they will be in danger of erring fatally. And we have only to refer to the past to be reminded of the great difficulty with which many of his people will be able to adapt themselves to such a state of things. It would not be surprising if they should mistake the exact and full bearing of the word of God upon their position, by having the mind engrossed by passing events, so that much allowance should be made, even for those who may seem to have departed from the truth, but who still hold fast their integrity at heart. The shock of a severe trial may so benumb the soul, that we may be slow of heart to believe, though one should begin at Moses and all the prophets, and expound to us in all the scriptures the things concerning our position; or like Thomas, who was unfortunately absent from the place where the Lord was pleased to manifest himself, we may become so bewildered as to resolve hastily, "Except I shall see I will not believe!" If the people of God in former days were so overcome as to be found "sleeping for sorrow," when they were compelled to see a cause entirely deserted, which had been, but a short time before, so popular, that the multitude were ready to make their master a king—if their sadness was so great, when they pondered over their disappointment in saving him whom they "trusted would have redeemed Israel," taken away from them by an ignominious death, that it could not be concealed while they journeyed in the public highway—O, how can it be otherwise than that those should be sorrowful, and the more so as the world rejoices at the disappointment which keeps from them their King, and the redemption of Israel, if, in the working of the plan by which that redemption is to be completed, such a transient disappointment should by some apparent oversight fall to their lot?—If it should be the case, for instance, that in their eagerness to witness his glorious advent they should apply some type, which pointed out an important preparatory item in his work, to his actual advent, and it was afterwards seen that his advent could not take place in fulfillment of that type, but only the receiving of his crown? And if he should remain away after the excitement of that expectation subsided till the harvest of the earth was ripe, how much sorrow, how much anxiety, how much fear, how much distraction must it occasion among the expectants! how much levity among their enemies! what a falling away among the half-hearted! into what contempt must "the cause" sink! O, how hard it must be for the bold and daring who have swept, almost like the angel of the prophet's vision, through the midst of heaven, foremost to proclaim the warning—to unfurl the banner of truth, and to storm the strongholds of error, how hard for such ones to feel at ease in such a state of apathy. It must seem as morbid to them as the atmosphere of the house of death. Like Peter they might be led to exclaim, if the cause is to come into this shape, "I go a fishing!" I must find something else to do, I can't stand this! And many others may be ready to say, If we are to have such a state of things as this among us, I prefer to be in the old churches! Well, "To this complexion it must come at last;" for this is the plan which God has made known to us: "Among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be." But can that be the time for the people of God to be planning to keep up the public interest—to rally for "the cause," as a permanent enterprise—to be alarmed by the fact of being "broken all to pieces?" No, no. He that cannot stand alone for God, and by HIS strength, at that time, will not stand; and it will be as vain and as dangerous to think of rousing up the churches and converting sinners, when that last spell has come over them, as it is for "the churches" to think of gathering out the tares from the wheat before the harvest. It is not a part of the plan. Have the Adventists any reason to believe that their position subjects them to these trials of the people of God? Have not their warnings and prayers and entreaties been witnessed by heaven and earth? And have they not been returned by cursing and scorn? Does not the world and the nominal church treat them and the truth which they proclaim with the most unblushing indifference and contempt? Yes, Yes. And from this spirit of indifference arises one of our chief trials and dangers. We can hardly endure it, that a cause so well sustained by the truth of God, that has excited so wide an interest, and is so fraught with promise in everything that can rejoice the Christian heart, should sink into contempt. We have been accustomed to ride upon the whirlwind and storm, it is difficult to accommodate ourselves to the dead calm. With our old landmarks all in sight, we felt quite at home; now that we have passed them, instead of keeping our eye steadily upon the lone promise that hangs out like a beacon light at the end of the voyage, the eye wanders around the unmarked horizon in fearfulness that we have lost our track. But God is with us still; and the present, like every other part of the voyage, corresponds exactly with the chart. And that assures us, that right in the midst of this dead calm, our Forerunner, who has gone to look out the anchoring ground within the veil, is to appear to bring in safely all that look for him. There is no trouble about the old landmarks, they have answered their purpose; look out for the Forerunner, and all will be right. It would seem that God is speaking to us as loudly—by the ominous indifference, which everywhere prevails around us, and which, in spite of ourselves almost disarms us, and makes us even afraid of our chosen friends, lest we become infected beyond recovery—as loudly as he has spoken by the falling stars, the darkened sun, or by the army of scoffers who have testified, though unwillingly, for the truth. And does it not say to us, The Judgment is here! It would not be possible to speak in detail of all the dangers to which we are now exposed in one article. I would say to the heart of every Adventist, Beware of self, beware of the devil! Self is as unworthy to be trusted as ever, and the devil will do his worst! The meekness and gentleness of Christ alone will save us. Beware of contention! Our motto should be this: Believe what God has spoken, and love one another! If a brother cannot see as we do after we "give the reason," let there be no hardness, no malice. If they cannot be convinced by such a course, we are not authorized to take any other. If we cannot see alike, we can love one another; contention will destroy us. Let us place ourselves among the redeemed, for a moment, and ask, What brother could we think of hindering from obtaining a part there? As to our views of the labor devolving upon us while I claim the liberty of doing only what I can do in the name of the Lord, I have no complaint to make of others who take the same liberty. On any supposition but little can be done. If we hold on to our former position as Adventists, who will hear us where the truth has been declared? If we give that up and take the position of "the churches," we cannot expect to do any more than they do, and that is less than we are doing. If the position to which we are brought by the special application of the word of God be correct, all is plain, it must soon be over! But let every one be fully persuaded in his own mind. God's plan will go into effect just as he has recorded it—as to time, and events; in reference to heaven and earth, to the world, the nominal church, and his people? "I have foretold you all things," says Christ. "Take heed to yourselves."