“AND he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Rev. xviii, 2.
Where is there a person throughout the length and breadth of our land, who, with an honest heart and a reflecting mind, can read this scripture and not at once come to a candid conclusion that it has a perfect application to the various multiplied sects and creeds of professed Christians, and that we live in the very day when this scripture is having such a perfect fulfillment, and so plain to be seen that we cannot for a moment doubt it.
If the word babylon signifies confusion, and is derived from Babel, does it not apply most correctly to the present, fallen, confused state of the nominal Churches in our land? If any one has any doubts as to the fallen state of the Church at the present day: I ask why are they so very different from what they were thirty, forty, fifty and sixty years ago? Can we not remember, my dear brethren and sisters, the times and seasons, even in our day, when we have been in some warm-hearted revivals, where the power of the Lord was manifested in the conversion of souls? Why do we not see the power of the Lord displayed in the awakening and conversion of sinners now as we did a few years ago? Ah! the truth is clear—they have drank in the spirit of the world—they have gone greedily after the world. Timothy says: [Chap. iv:] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. I ask, why have they become so popular, so proud, so dressy, so fashionable and so gay? Most certainly it is true that they are fallen, and have become just what the Revelator predicted: the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Take for instance the Methodist Episcopal Church, as a body, and what were they forty or fifty years since? A more humble, sincere, devout, holy, godly people could scarcely be found. A Methodist minister’s wife related to me not long since, the fact that in the city of Boston, when she lived there, some fifty-eight years ago, every member of the M. E. Church could distinctly be recognized as they passed up and down the streets in Boston, by their dress, their look and appearance. Is it so at the present day? Certainly not. Professors of religion at the present day walk hand in hand with the worldling. The most keen eye can discern no difference. Go to the bar-room and you will there see no difference between the professor and the non-professor. Go to the theatre, and will you there find members of the churches? Yes, scores and scores of them. Go to the caravan and the circus, where you will see one or two of Satan’s agents, dressed up in the shape of, and acting the part of, a clown, and will you not there find a Christian? No, no, you will not find a true Christian in such a place. But you may look for, and you will be sure to find, vast numbers of those who profess to be Christians, and belong to any and all the nominal churches in our land. Go to the ball-room, and who do you find there to join in the giddy dance? Why, you will most assuredly find there many who belong to the Church, and have vowed before God and the Church to forsake the world and to live a godly life. But ah! where are they? You will find them nowhere else but in fallen Babylon.
My heart rejoices, and I am glad, and I will give God the glory that, unworthy as I am, I have been honestly influenced to join this company of come-outers so unpopular in these last days, and keep all the commandments of God. O that the Lord would lead us to see and feel more than ever the importance of holy living, and an entire consecration of all we are and have to the service of the Lord.
It is now about ten months since I commenced keeping God’s holy Sabbath, and during this time I have many times felt to rejoice in God who has brought me to see the light. I am not sorry, neither have I seen a repenting moment for having embraced the seventh-day theory. It is full of truth, that pure Bible truth, that the seventh day is the only Sabbath of which we have any account. And I may safely say there are multiplied thousands who would be ready to embrace and keep the seventh-day Sabbath if it was only popular; if it only corresponded with creeds or sects; but thanks be to God, who, under the last message of mercy is drawing out the remnant who are prepared to stand on Bible truth, though professors of religion may laugh and deride and circulate all manner of false reports against those who keep the Bible Sabbath; yet God and truth are on our side. “If God be for us, who shall be against us?” The inquiry has gone forth from every portion of our country, and from every professedly orthodox, christian Church in the land, why are not sinners powerfully awakened and converted to God as in former days? Why are not our ears saluted with the cry of trembling penitents, “What shall I do to be saved?” Why is it that there is not to be found a revival spirit among all the nominal Churches of America? It certainly is true that there never was a time when there seemed to be such an eager grasp after riches, honor, the pleasures of the world and the praise of men, as at the present time, and that too by the professed followers of the Lord Jesus. It is the constant study of professed ministers of the gospel during the whole six days of the week, how and what they shall preach when Sunday comes, so as to please proud, haughty sinners. I will cite to only one instance which happened not long since under my own observation: I was seated one pleasant morning in a fine, costly meeting-house of the Baptist denomination. As soon as the congregation were collected and seated, their pastor arose and with a smile said, Let us sing to the praise of God the hymn recorded on page — of their hymn-book. Soon the choir composed of more than half sinners who made no profession of religion, and with a dancing master at their head arose and sung the hymn. This man who led the choir and taught the singing-school in that place, also taught the dancing-school. I ask, Is all this amalgamation of the church and the world to the honor and the glory of God? And yet this is only one instance out of a thousand. Think of it, brethren and sisters, who belong to the different churches who profess to be true Sabbath-keepers, and are looking for the speedy coming of the Saviour. Think of the world and a world of professors. Think of their dress and gay ornaments. Do you wish to be like them? Will true, honest-hearted followers of the Lord Jesus under the third angel’s message imitate or pattern after the world or any of its fashions? I hope and pray not. Listen a moment to what a true servant of the Lord has said: 1 Tim. ii, 8-10. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but which becometh women professing godliness with good works. Where is the honest searcher after truth who does not at once see that Babylon means the different churches, creeds and sects and that they are in a fallen state and have truly become the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird? But God has raised up in these last days honest men who have gone forth to sound the last note of warning, and give the cry, “Come out of her my people.” O that God would clothe them with humility; for they need much grace to face an opposing world, a fallen and corrupt church, and to meet thousands who are laughing and scoffing at the doctrine respecting Christ’s second coming. O how truly are the Apostle’s words being fulfilled before our eyes every day. 2 Pet. iii, 3, 4. Knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? &c. And very many of these scoffers have a regular standing in the so-called Christian churches. Brethren, I only testify to things which I know to be true. I meet with scoffers every day as I pass through the streets of Battle Creek. One of them said the other day, (when he saw a kite in the air,) Warren, there is the white cloud, when are you going up? But these things only tend to strengthen my faith in the speedy coming of Christ. Brethren and Sisters, be faithful; and by the grace of God I will try to meet you where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are forever at rest.