PEACE AND SAFETY by M. E. Cornell

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 19, 1859

PEACE AND SAFETY.

By M. E. Cornell

“Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.” Eze. xiii, 22.

From the connection of this passage it is evident that it refers to the present time. The popular sentiment, “The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth, and he prophesieth of times that are far off,” &c., is there referred to, also the refusal to go up into the “gaps” to prepare the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord; and the seeing “visions of peace for Jerusalem” (age to come) also, the great hailstones of the time of trouble are mentioned. There can be no doubt about its application to the present time.

The hands of the wicked are now strengthened by promising them life without repentance. The practice of preaching popular unbelievers into heaven on funeral occasions is becoming quite general.

A young man of rich parents in — Co., Mich., who was a notorious ball character, was killed instantly by a limb falling from a tree and dashing out his brains so instantaneously that he had not time scarcely to speak a word. The Methodist preacher in charge, while preaching his funeral sermon, said, “— is now praising God in heaven.” I was astonished, and could hardly believe that I heard it. But such things are now becoming quite common. The same minister accepted money that was gambled for, remarking that he did not care how they got it he could make good use of it.

Another Methodist Elder preaching a funeral sermon over his brother Mason, extolled the lodge and brotherhood very highly, remarking that “Our earthly lodge is preparatory to the great, grand lodge in heaven.” The deceased brother Mason was as near an infidel as anything, and died without change, yet the Methodist minister called him a worthy brother, and represented that he was saved.

If these things be so, then go on, vain youth; if you are not more rude and wicked than — was, you are safe. You cannot die more suddenly than he did; never fear, there is safety.

As the Masonic lodge is now exalted above the church, if you are only a member of that, no difference if you are an infidel, you are perfectly safe. You may be killed never so suddenly, yet all will be well, for you know that the minister of your order will preach you into heaven, and the order in procession will drop sprigs of evergreen upon your coffin, signifying that your immortal soul (?) still survives, and is flourishing.

Thus they “cry peace when there is no peace,” and say, “Thus saith the Lord, when he hath not spoken.”

Ministers of different orders are fast becoming Masons, or Odd Fellows; are joining hands with the ungodly, and standing in the way of sinners, and sitting in the seat of the scornful. They prophesy smooth things, and the people love to have it so.

A circumstance was related to me of a poor and rather a loose member of the Methodist church, who beat in his name for admission to the lodge. A noted infidel in the lodge objected on the ground of immorality. The pastor of the Methodist church remarked that it was a singular idea that a member in good standing in the church should be rejected from that Order, on the ground of immorality. The infidel replied that it was time he was made acquainted with the fact that their institution required better morals in order to fellowship than the M. E. Church. What a comment is this upon the fall of Babylon!

Ministers now generally strike against the leading features of the present truth. They ridicule the idea of Christ's soon coming, the mortality of man, and the true Sabbath. These are essential truths, which are very important at the present time, and the fact that they are generally opposed by the churches, is good proof of their fallen state. They have departed from their own first principles, and have lowered the standard to the very dust; and well do they know they are fallen, for they often speak of it, although some of the ministers here stoutly deny it, and some of them claim that what we call pride is only civilization.

Yesterday a Methodist Elder said the claims for the seventh day were wholesale assumptions. His objections were, the darkness toward the north pole, and the law required only one seventh part of time; and finally quoted Dr. Peter Acre's chronology, which says that Sunday is the original seventh day, and then remarked that he should stick to the old ship of Methodism, for it had landed thousands safely over, &c. The spirit of the whole discourse was “Peace and safety,” and “So they wrap it up.”

M. E. CORNELL.

Owasso, Mich., May 2d, 1859.