Follow Me by E. Everts

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 14, 1856

Follow Me.

By E. Everts

NEED I say again, Christian traveler, that Jesus says, "Follow Me." Ah! think. Was there a necessity for this call? Did Jesus see you amid the world, pressing your way down the broad way to ruin? Then pursue no more that way with the multitude. Do not frame reasons for persisting in the course of the world; it is enough that Jesus has said, "Follow me." "I have chosen you out of the world." "You cannot serve two masters."

Will you say, I must assist in undoing oppressive laws by going to the Polls. I must help place righteous men in rule. I must break every oppressive yoke. I must assist the outraged. I must provide for my own household, or I shall deny the faith and be worse than an Infidel?

But stop, my brother. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" Prov. xiv, 12. True, it is your duty as "salt of the earth," to help suppress all oppression and evil, to do your utmost to propagate and diffuse good laws, and provide for your own household. But how are you to do this, as a Christian, and follower of Jesus? With the strife of the politics of the wicked governments, which require you with an oath to go the whole length of executing its laws and in defending the rights of the government, or pretended rights, with the sword, which is the ultimatum of enforcing the least enactment if obedience is refused?

Has the gospel of Jesus granted you the right to use the sword, to arm you with carnal weapons, to take the sword to "provide for your own household," to deliver the oppressed out of the power of the oppressor, by breaking the sixth commandment of God, "Thou shalt not kill?" Jesus says, "Love your enemies."

Do you think that you, as a Christian living under the gospel, have a Bible permission to mingle in political strife in any way whatever? either in legislating or executing the laws of human government? If so, I think you are greatly mistaken! Every text you may quote, or plausible reason you may make, must be tested by plain, literal scripture. It may be that we may notice all such scriptures or reasons, that you urge at a proper time; but firstly, we will listen to the gospel. To Christians who are willing to follow Jesus, this ought to be enough.

Jesus says, "If any man serve me, let him follow me." John xii, 26. But do you say, this I can do, and serve as a faithful citizen of my country, in her national policies and government? Stop, Jesus says, "No man can serve two masters." Matt. vi, 24. "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John xv, 19.

What share can you take in the policies of the world, if "ye are not of the world, but are hated of the world," and "are chosen out of the world?" But must we give the rule into the hands of the wicked, say you? You cannot help yourself. Wicked men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, and at the time of the end of the world, the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand. Dan. xii, 10. The reason is because the world are not willing to obey God, or follow Jesus, not acknowledging that there is one Lawgiver. Jas. iv, 12. "Wherefore the Lord has said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men; therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Isa. xxix, 13, 14. How wonderfully this is exemplified in the course of the many high professors of divinity, who have but a short time in the past, stood at the head of religious revivals, moral reforms and peace societies: leading on the church of Christ, armed with the gospel that brings to light, life and immortality; wielded by entreaties, prayers and tears. Now in the very face of the gospel, when Jesus has said, Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you," that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is merciful. Matt. v, 43-45; Luke vi, 36.

Notwithstanding these scriptures, we see the deplorable state of the Christian churches as they develop their moral fall and conformity to the world. Some few of the many instances we quote.

Says the Dixon Transcript, June 25th, referring to the Pittsburgh convention, "After prayer by Rev. Mr. Lovejoy, the Rev. Mr. Brewer of Conn., said, he was in favor of using fire-arms, and fighting for freedom in Kansas."

"Rev. Mr. Chandler said he believed that Sharp's rifles were the best peacemakers, there was no danger

too many of them would be introduced into Kansas."

"Rev. Mr. Lovejoy was willing to go either as a captain or private. He would use Sharp's rifles, and fire with good aim!"

"In the North Church, soon after, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher said, I hold it to be an everlasting disgrace to shoot at a man and not hit him."

Says another professed preacher of Christ, in a church in Detroit, in referring to Kansas outrages, "Rather than suffer it, he would have the plains of Kansas silent with universal death," and referring to Brooks' outrage being aimed at the freedom of our Senators and Representatives, "Sooner than suffer it, I would see the halls of Congress ankle deep in blood!"

And says Gerritt Smith, (whose moral worth and numerous acts of benevolence many of the needy and afflicted will respond to,) at the Buffalo convention on the 10th inst., July, "If the object of the convention was to distribute good books and agricultural implements in Kansas, it was doubtless a good one. They might raise their hundred thousand dollars monthly to do so, but they would have no money from him! He had given all the money he could spare for such things, and felt that he was now called upon to contribute means to arm men and send them to fight. He continued to say that political action just now is their greatest evil and danger. They are looking after ballots, when their eyes should be fixed on bayonets; they are counting votes when they should be mustering armed men; they are looking after civil rulers when they should be searching after military ones. He desired to hear of a collision with the Federal troops, and that Northern men had fallen—and then he would hear of Northern States arraying themselves against the Federal Government, and would that be the end? No! Missouri would be the next battle-field, and then Slavery would be driven to the wall."

In view of facts like these, demonstrating the change of the most fine gold to worse than dross, the utter disregard of the testimonies of Christ and their former profession, we must exclaim, "They have gone the way of Cain, and run greedily after the error of Balaam."

Are these men following Jesus? Are they harnessing themselves and followers with gospel weapons? Are they exhibiting implicit confidence in the perfect law of God? Do they acknowledge that there is but one Lawgiver for the Christian? Do they hear Paul say, The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds?" 2 Cor. x, 4. Are they finally heeding the scriptures that they professedly teach?

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Why? For we wrestle not against flesh and blood. No, that is not the calling of the followers of Jesus. But we wrestle "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness [wicked spirits, margin] in high places." "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Eph. vi, 11-13.

Paul enumerates the Christian weapons in Eph. vi, 14-18, and says, Take the sword of the spirit, (not of steel,) which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Having on this heavenly armor, and their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, striving to enjoy Christ's benediction, Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are peacemakers, (not peace-breakers,) for they shall be called the children of God. Matt. v, 7-9. Listen to John as he addresses the soldiers, when they asked what they should do. He replies, Do violence to no man. Jno. iii, 14. Remember that Jesus said to Peter, when the great practical doctrine was taught for all Christians, what to do with the sword, Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Matt. xx, 52.

Let Christians walk in the light of these truths and there would be but few Christian generals or soldiers, to use the "Rev. Mr. Beecher's twenty-five Sharp's rifles," although a Bible sanctimoniously be attached to the breech of each.

They hear Jesus say, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight. Jno. xviii, 36. Christians thus armed with these gospel weapons, and completely disarmed of carnal ones, being entirely separate from the governments of the world; they may let the world, armed down with weapons of death as they are, rush down the broad road, enforcing their unchristian laws with the penalty of death.

It is the unspeakable privilege of the remnant of the church, as they look over the history of the past, and see, although the disciples of Christ have like Paul, cried out, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. [Rom. viii, 36,] while their pathway has been bedewed with tears, saturated with their blood, and covered with their torn carcasses and bleached bones;—it is their privilege to exclaim with Balaam, as they see that God's "people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations," "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" Num. xxiii, 9, 10. E. EVERTS. Round Grove, Whiteside Co., Ill.