“ONE SINNER DESTROYETH MUCH GOOD,”
By Merritt E. Cornell
This scripture evidently speaketh not in vain. One sinner in a church, continuing in fellowship without reproof, is doubtless enough to bring the frown of God upon the whole body. Then darkness prevails. The humble and devoted ones struggle for the victory and mourn because they do not obtain it. They call to remembrance the former days—the many refreshings from the Lord enjoyed in the past—and while they contrast them with the present, they are greatly distressed. And Israel doth not prevail. Barrenness and lukewarmness are distressing the borders of Zion. Achans are in the camp. Church order is neglected. The law is slacked and judgment doth not go forth. Anciently the Lord cursed Israel because of one sinner, and as God is unchangeable a curse must certainly come, because of many no better than Achan, who are now claiming and formally receiving the fellowship of the church. If “whatever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,” and were “our ensamples,” then may we tremble and return to the Lord with weeping, and cry, “spare thy people, O Lord.” Let the seventh chapter of Joshua be diligently read, and the circumstances there compared with the present people whom the Lord has delivered from modern Babylon and antitypical Egypt. If it was sin to covet the Babylonian garment and dissemble before Joshua and ancient Israel, it must be sin to covet and dissemble before the people of God now. The word of the Lord to the Joshua among the remnant is doubtless, “Up, sanctify the people.” A confession should be demanded of these latter-day Achans, that they may be brought to the test. The covetous and dissemblers should not be suffered to remain without being subjected to a thorough Bible trial. Do not the present exigencies demand something more than mere promiscuous testimony? A rich Sabbath-keeper said to one of the messengers that he was sorry he had not any money to help him to expenses; which of course was satisfactory to the Lord's servant, for the Lord requires according to what a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. But before the messenger left, that rich man had his attention called to the price of grain in a certain place, which was selling so low for cash that it would, as he said, double in value before Spring, and he had a mind to buy a hundred bushels. The servant of God was shocked, but would he dare to manifest his indignation before such an one? Such instances are multiplying, and that without reproof. Some that still worship the tobacco god, have endeavored to hide it from the Lord's servants in a manner that amounts to coveting and dissembling, as did Achan, or Ananias and Sapphira. What saith the Scriptures? “If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner with such an one no not to eat.” 1 Cor. v. 11. Here the covetous man is ranked with the vilest of characters, and the Apostle's charge concerning them is to “put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” Again in Eph. v, 5-7. “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” See also Col. iii, 5, 6. These scriptures, with many others, show how God looks upon the sin of covetousness. It is among the very worst of sins which God hates. From “Testimony for the church No. 2,” p. 31, we extract the following: “I saw that the Israel of God must arise, renew their strength in God by renewing and keeping their covenant with him. Covetousness, selfishness, and love of money, and love of the world, are all through the ranks of Sabbath-keepers. These evils are drying up the sacrifice of God's people. Those who have this covetousness in their hearts are not aware of it. It has gained upon them imperceptibly, and unless it is rooted out, their destruction will be as sure as Achan's was.” Again in “Testimony No. 1,” p. 11: “I was shown that God's people have been weighed down with clogs, that there had been Achans in the camp. The work of God has progressed but little, and many of God's servants have been discouraged,” &c. Concerning the duty of the church we have the following in “Testimony No. 1,” p. 6: “I saw that decided efforts should be made to show those who were unchristian in their lives, their wrongs, and if they do not correct their lives, they should be separated from the precious and holy, that God may have a clean and pure people that he can delight in. Dishonour him not by linking or uniting the clean and pure with the unclean.” In addition to the above we exhort most earnestly, the rich among us to read diligently chapter xxxi, of Spiritual Gifts. For one I believe God would have the covetous among us treated according to the light of his word. It is the solemn duty of the church to judge those within. If any claim the fellowship of the church, the church also demand that they walk according to the word. They must put away their covetousness or the church must put them away. Will the Lord ever return to this people, unless they return to him? Verily not. He will reject them and raise up another people who will take warning by the slackness of this people and will honor him by their faithfulness. O solemn thought! I have felt distressed on this account for weeks. There is danger of this people being left entirely. “I will spue thee out of my mouth,” says the faithful and true Witness. If the Lord shall spare his people yet a little longer, will they return to him? O Lord, forsake not utterly thy people, but still gather them unto eternal life. Amen! M. E. CORNELL.