WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Mar 20, 1855

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHAT are you doing, brother, to advance the cause of Bible truth? Perhaps you have thought that about all that was required of you, was to keep the Sabbath, and attend to the common forms of religious duties, and deal honestly with all men. These are all very good, as far as they go; but are only a small part of the Christian's whole duty, as set forth in the Scriptures of truth. "Ye are the light of the world," says Christ. Darkness covers "the earth and gross darkness the people;" and Bible Christians, standing forth in all the brilliancy of truth, are the world's only true light. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. v, 14-16.

Brother, What are you doing? You have cast off the misty creeds and fables of men, and have the light of Bible truth. But are you letting it so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify God? Or, are you buried up with the cares of this life, and the spirit of the world, bending your energies of body and mind to advance your farming, mechanical, or other interests, while your neighbors, and the community around you are left to grope their way in the dense darkness of error's night? The clear light of Bible truth has shown into your mind. This inestimable treasure has been brought to your door, and has been freely offered to you. You have wisely chosen it, and have rejoiced in it. It has had a sanctifying influence over your mind, and has elevated

your thoughts and feelings to things above. It has shown to you the Judgment near, and a lost world rushing on to speedy ruin. All this has tended to wean your affections from this world, and lead you to lay yourself and all you have on the altar, and prepare to abide the day of His coming. But what are you now doing? Do you realize the condition of those around you, and a world in ruin, exposed to the deceptive errors of this time, and the wrath of God just in the future? Are you awake, and ready to make any sacrifice, that they may be led from error to truth, and to Christ? Or are you slumbering, while they hasten blindfolded to death without hearing your warning voice, or seeing one ray of light from you? "Ye are the light of the world." Sinners, in or out of the nominal church, have a right to expect light from you, and claim it at your hand, and if you neglect your duty, their blood will be upon you. O, brother, What are you doing?

Again, the manner of letting the light we have shine, should be particularly noticed. The Master says, "Let your light SO shine before men that they may see your GOOD WORKS." We are sorry to say of some who embrace Bible truth, that they let their light so shine before men that they, seeing their bad works, become disgusted and prejudiced against the truth. What a pity that such men should get between the servants of God and the people.

Others have but a small portion of the Christian armor on; are quite easy because they keep the Sabbath, believe in immortality alone through Christ, and talk about the third angel's message, and the Lord's coming. They profess much faith, but have but little or no corresponding works. Their primary object for which they put forth almost their entire energies, is to promote worldly interests. Theirs is a dead faith.

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect." James ii, 17-22.

We venture the truthful assertion that a man will show by his works all the faith he has. "I will show thee my faith by my works." To believe there is one God, is, so far, well doing; the "devils believe" this "and tremble." One may believe in the existence of God, Christ, and a coming judgment; he may hold scriptural views of the law of God, immortality alone through Christ, and the saint's inheritance, yet if he has not corresponding works, his faith is dead, or, rather, he has no true faith. Abraham, the friend of God, and father of the faithful, is set forth as the true pattern of faith. By faith he obeyed, and went forth, not knowing whither, and sojourned in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob. He looked to the city which hath foundations as a permanent residence. Behold him bending his footsteps to one of the mountains of the land of Moriah, with his beloved Isaac, his only son. Relying fully on the promise of God, he staggered not. It was for him to believe and obey, and leave the consequences with God, and thus perfect his faith. Then it was for God to take care of the promise, and deliver. Who "will be blest with faithful Abraham?" Answer. Those who "are of faith."

Dear brother, Will dead faith save you in the day of wrath? Will it shelter you when the seven last plagues, in which is filled up the wrath of God, shall be poured out? Will it be sufficient when the trumpet sounds and the faithful are changed to immortality? Beware! Will your influence in community tell for the truth, while you talk of the last message and the immortal kingdom at hand, and at the same time act as if the old world in its present form was to be your eternal home? O, beware! If you occupy a position like this, you stand in the way of sinners and hinder the work of God.

But when you begin to act out your faith, then your testimony will have an edge, and the people will regard you, at least, as honest, and will begin to feel that there is something in the doctrines you profess. Words alone are cheap, and pass away upon the breeze; but when you show the people your faith by your works, then there will be weight and power to your testimony.

All are not called to labor in word and doctrine; all are not capable of setting forth the reasons of our faith in public or private; yet all, by a holy life and works which correspond with faith in present truth can speak to the hearts of those about them in language more powerful than that uttered by the tongue. O, God, in mercy raise up a host of such preachers!

There is a work for all to do. You, who are not called to leave your homes, and go to preach to hearts as hard as steel, can help those who are called to this work by your prayers, your words of sympathy, and with "those things needful to the body." If you really believe them to be the servants of God, preaching the truth, you will gladly divide with them for their support. But if your faith is a dead faith, you will probably say to them, after they have labored in your community awhile, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body." James ii, 16.

A great work can be accomplished in the circulation of Tracts. A few scriptural sermons will do but little to establish people on the truth, unless the interest is backed up with the clear expositions of Bible truth contained in our Tracts. But very little permanent good can be done without them. Dear brethren, they have been prepared with great care, and are offered to you at cost for you to circulate. Do you see your friends and neighbors bewildered with the no law and no Sabbath heresy? we call your attention to our works on the Law and the Sabbath, by Brn. Waggoner, Andrews and others. Put these in their hands and it may save some of them. Do you see them bewitched with Spiritualism, or sinking in the mire of Universalism and Infidelity? the clear expositions of divine truth set forth in the works, the Atonement, and Man not Immortal, by Brn Stephenson and Hall, will save them, if they will read, believe and obey. When you have set these before them, then, and not till then, will your duty in this respect be done. The unbelief of sinners, in or out of the nominal church, is no excuse for you to fold your arms, and do nothing. It was as necessary for Noah to preach a coming flood, as if the whole world had believed. It has been more necessary to make vigilant efforts in preaching the gospel the past 1800 years, than if all men had willingly received it. The fact that only a very few will hear, believe and obey, forms the strongest reason for the greater effort to rescue the few. Some get quite discouraged because a very few sermons and a few dollars' worth of Tracts do not convert a score. They seem to act as though the salvation of a soul was worth but a few dollars! What if it would cost a large estate and the labor of one's life to save one from ruin? that soul to ever live and shine eternally in the crown of glory, would ten thousand times repay the effort put forth for his salvation. We inquire again, Brother, what are you doing? For Christ's sake, who died for you, and now lives to intercede for you, for your own sake, who soon will meet your works in judgment, and for the sake of your fellow men, who are bound with you to the judgment, Awake to duty—to what the suffering cause of truth demands of you at this time.