Peace and Safety by Wm. S. Foote

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 1, 1858

Peace and Safety.

By Wm. S. Foote

As the truth spreads, the cry of "peace and safety" among the false prophets grows louder and louder. As well might the contending armies on a field of battle cry and look for peace and safety! The children of God do not look for it until Jesus comes, and says, "Peace be unto you." "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Then where shall we look for it? In future years on the earth? No; for in the last days evil men and seducers are to wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Among the 666 nominal churches, how many thousands, think you, are groping in midnight darkness and error under the delusive cry of peace and safety? Then where, amidst the threatened wrath of a sin-avenging God, and the exhibition of sinful passions among men growing worse and worse, can we look for peace? There is but one place here; 'tis in the heart of him who says, "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver." "O how love I thy law; it is my meditation all the day." Can there be peace and safety among those who reject and treat with contempt that law which we are told is holy, just and good? that law which shows us that we are sinners, and drives us to Christ as our only hope? "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination." How much peace, and how great an assurance of safety, can such a man have? and how much peace can a man enjoy who is employed in publicly opposing the last message of God to a world of sinners. "Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit."

Fellow travelers to eternity! we had much better possess a knowledge of our frailty, our poverty and ignorance; much better be governed by the meek, humble, child-like Spirit of Jesus, and be taught of him—much better possess a teachable spirit and be willing to prove all things, and hold fast that which is good, than to be puffed up by pride, self-sufficiency and worldliness; much better suffer affliction with the people of God; much better be of those of whom it is said, "In this world ye shall have tribulation," than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and lose our souls at last!

And Christian brother, while we have an assurance that God is about to cut short his work in righteousness, and we see the rapid fulfillment of prophecy, and in the midst of the cry of peace and safety, men's hearts all about us are failing for fear of those things which are coming upon the earth, let us by the grace of God keep our armor bright, and what our hands find to do, do with our might. May those of us who are poor as to this world's goods, do what we can to help the cause of truth; at least, through grace be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, and the rich see to it that they lay up a treasure in heaven, and all be preachers of the gospel of the kingdom by a holy walk and godly conversation.

I will close by relating an anecdote for the messengers of the truth, if the brethren will pledge themselves to help them to profit by it. "Concealment is not the law of God's word, but manifestation, and in times of danger and treachery, you are compelled to vary the ordinary law of God's word, as rains and gentle showers, and to come down in a perfect cataract, as if all the windows of heaven were opened, and the fountains of the great deep were broken up. During the war of the revolution, it is said that, at a particular point of his lines, Washington found his sentinels, night after night, picked off by a party that could not be detected. At length he committed the care of that point to a sagacious, trusty negro. He told him the nature of the danger, and bade him have all his wits about him, remembering the watch-word, if any suspicious movement was before him, which was, to call out, "Who goes there?" three times and then five. The faithful, keen-witted negro reflected and made up his mind. Past midnight his watchful ear caught the stealthy advance of an enemy, and just waiting long enough to be sure of his aim, he leveled his gun, and called out in one sentence, at one breath, "Who goes there three times?" and fired. The foe was shot, the alarm given and the post saved. It is sometimes necessary to give the warning and shot at the same moment, and thus concentrate, not here a little and there a little, but all at once, and blow after blow followed up so rapidly that neither compromise nor retreat is possible."

WM. S. FOOTE. Pendleton, Ohio.