Reasons why so Few Receive the Present Truth.
By J. B. Frisbie
THE carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be. Why? Because the law is holy, just, good and spiritual; while the carnal mind is sold under sin. John iii, 19, 20. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil; for every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 2 Cor. iv, 4. The God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not. Luke viii, 12, 14. The devil taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. The cares, riches and pleasures of this life, choke the word that it bring no fruit to perfection. 2 Thess. ii, 9-12. Christ's coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all may be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Heb. iii, 13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. James i, 22-24. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves; for if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way straightway and forgetteth what manner of man he was. 2 Tim. iii, 13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. Chap. iv, 3, 4. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they (the hearers) shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. James ii, 5-9. Harken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well; but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. As it is now, so was it when our Lord was on earth, when "the common people heard him gladly." 1 Cor. i, 26. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. John vii, 48. Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? John xii, 42, 43. Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Luke xii, 8. Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. There is not the least doubt that many are convinced that we have the truth, but dare not confess it for fear of being turned out of the synagogue; and at the same time despise to go with such a little, scattered, poor and world-despised flock; but Jesus has said, "Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Matt. xxi, 31. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you; i. e., chief priests and elders. The same difficulties lie in the way of our present day chief priests and elders, we fear. We find when we present the Sabbath to them they will immediately contend for a change in the day from the seventh to the first day by order of Christ and the apostles. Show that to be groundless, and they will turn another way and say it does not make any odds what day, if we only keep a seventh part of time. Then show the fallacy of such an idea, and they will then turn round and say, Who knows which the seventh day is? We then show them this plainly, and they will then make a clean sweep that the law of God was abolished at the cross, and down went Sabbath and all. Show them the folly of this, and by this time they get impatient, and hastily and carelessly say it don't make any odds: our forefathers kept Sunday, and died happy and we will trust our salvation on the same foundation; and it was good enough for them and it is good enough for us. So Gallio-like they go, caring for none of these things. Acts xviii, 12, 17. Hosea iv, 6, 9. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. And there shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. Jer. xxiii, 21, 22. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But 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. Eze. xxxiv, 1, 3, 6. Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? Ye eat the fat, and clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. We have but little faith or hope of the many pastors of the day ever coming into the truth. We really believe if the ministers of all denominations should preach the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, that it would not be six weeks before the world would be turned about to keep it. But oh! the fearful howling and crying that must soon come upon them. Are they to be pitied for this after they shall cause millions to stumble and fall into destruction? Jer. xxv, 34-38.