A PRESSING WANT OF BIBLE ARGUMENT
Is seen in those who relate what they have heard of the faults of individuals as arguments against the truth. For it is a fact, that in any case of importance, a man will produce his best evidence, and if he resorts to slander and ridicule, and offers what he has heard of the faults of individuals to bring into disrepute the faith of any body of Christians, it shows that he has nothing better to present. Such a being is to be pitied. Poor creature! Feeding upon the hear-say faults of others, and dealing them out to prejudice those with whom he has influence, to bring them into the same low, narrow channel with himself. But those who keep the commandments of God may expect to meet with opposition of this character. We think this may be learned from the following scripture: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. FOR without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever LOVETH AND MAKETH A LIE." Rev. xxii, 14, 15. The father of lies, the devil, and the devoted children have ever been extensively engaged in lie-making, and they have always found admirers, who have loved their lies when made; but here the loving and making lies by one class, is mentioned in connection with another class who do the commandments of God. This will be seen fully in the history of the "remnant" on whom the dragon was to make war for keeping the commandments of God, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. xii, 17. Let advent ministers, who report what they have heard respecting those who keep the Sabbath, look back eight or ten years, and see what opposition they then met with. Stories of ascension-robes, insanity produced by believing the Lord was coming, &c., &c., prejudiced the public mind, and were the most powerful weapons used against the advent. Would not those who now take a similar course relative to Sabbath-keepers, were they placed back eight or ten years with the spirit they now possess, join with the meanest and most bitter opposition to the advent? Let the candid answer. The following is from the Advent Shield of May, 1844: "But the most wonderful and overwhelming of all arguments which have ever been presented against the doctrine, is 'Mr. Miller has built some stone wall on his farm!!' But I forgot myself; I said the most wonderful; there is another quite its equal: 'Mr. Miller refuses to sell his farm!!' Now, O! how can Christ come, when Mr. Miller will not sell his farm?
But this is not all; for the truth is, 'Mr. Himes has published and scattered, (a large part of them gratuitously,) more than five million of books and papers. He must be engaged in a speculation; and how can the Lord come? O! how CAN he come?'"