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Supporting the Cause

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 6, 1859

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 13, No. 7.

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Supporting the Cause

By M. W. Porter

From Bro. Porter.

BRO. SMITH : I can say that for one I am trying to keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus, I feel to praise my great Creator that he has seen fit to let the light of present truth shine on my pathway, and greatly to adore him for his tender mercy in leading me to embrace it. My prayer to the Lord is that he may richly bless his servants who have labored so faithfully that the truth might be set before the people. I feel very sad on the account of my not being able to help sustain them in their labors, and am led to wonder how those must feel who have the means who will not do anything to support the cause. Again, I am led to inquire, Must I live and die in this world and never do any good, and the world be none the better for my having lived in it? Did Jesus intend that we should get all the property we could, and keep all we get, when he said to us, Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, &c., but lay up treasures in heaven? Dear Jesus, help us to take thy advice, and keep thy sayings, for they are truth.
Brethren and sisters, let us have the Spirit of Christ in this respect. Did he labor for earthly treasures? or had he where to lay his head? Was he not a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief? Was not he the one that became poor that we might be made rich, and died that we might have life?
O brethren and sisters, inasmuch as we profess to be the disciples of Jesus, let not our actions give us the lie; for if we have not the Spirit of Christ we are none of his. When I think of my many unworthy actions, I am led to ask myself the question, Can I ever be saved? Can I escape the swift destruction that is coming on the ungodly? We need your prayers, we crave them, that we fall not, that we may overcome at last. Myself and companion are the only ones of like faith in this vicinity. Those that heretofore were with us in the faith are now believers in the Age-to-Come theory.
I wish to give you an account of some of the folly that we have heard preached, without trying to reply to it, as it has been fully and fairly met in the Review. This I think I can do without entertaining bitter feelings towards its advocates. We have been told that religion is a science; that there is no Holy Ghost about it, and this rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory is nothing but excitement; that the gifts ended with the days of the apostles; that praying for the sick is fruitless; that there will be probation after the second coming of Christ; that children and idiots will not have a resurrection, because those that are saved will be saved by their works; that this nation will not suffer the wrath of God—none but those nations that have persecuted the Jews; that the saints will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and remain there but a short time, and then return to the land of Palestine.
Many more inconsistencies might be added; but this is sufficient, as you are better acquainted with the different views contained in the theory than I am. I know of nothing better calculated to lull people to sleep than the Age-to-Come theory.
We have heard an advocate of that theory preach a number of times. We heard no exhortation to the people to become better men and women; the ungodly were not warned of approaching danger, neither were they pointed to the true Rest-day of God. How different this is from the word of God which says, Cry aloud and spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions. The language of inspiration has ever been, Turn ye, turn ye, for why will you die! Then how easy to distinguish the faithful servant from the unfaithful. Give us to know present truth and present duty, and let us by the assisting grace of God live up to it; and then, blessed be the God and rock of our salvation, we shall have a part in the glories of the future age.
How vain the thought seems that there will be probation after the second advent of Christ. At the first he came in the form of a servant to communicate to a fallen world glad tidings, that all who would come might come and take of the waters of life freely. But behold how different the second! He comes, Lord of lords and King of kings! Not only this, but to rule the nations with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Ever since I became a professor of religion I have believed that God would hear and answer the prayers of faith in behalf of the sick; and I think I have seen the evidence of it. I believe also in the gifts, and I fear that those who are fighting against them will find when it is too late that they are fighting against God. As soon as I can obtain the means I will repeat my petition for some one of the Lord's servants to come and help us.
M. W. PORTER.
Dodge Co., Minn., Dec., 1858.