Untitled article by GLEANER

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 1, 1859

THOUGHTS BY THE WAYSIDE.—No. 3.

By GLEANER

WHEN will my Saviour come? This thought has been about my pathway for months and years. In the darkness of the night-time, or in the glare of noonday, wherever I have journeyed, this thought has been. Often I have wished that the "watchmen on the walls of Zion" would bring the joyful message, "Behold the King cometh." My heart has longed for deliverance, and my ears have listened eagerly for the sound of his chariot-wheels. Now and then some despised watchman, or humble follower, has told me the soul-cheering message, "He is near." But when I asked the Doctors of Divinity, they have told me that my Lord delayed his coming, or that he had come, or that he never would come, except in a spiritual sense; and that, many ages hence. At this my mourning heart has turned instinctively to the record of his life and promise, and here, truly, I have found choice food for hope, and strong proofs that he would come again, and would not tarry; moreover, that he had enjoined upon me a duty to watch, for, if I did not, he would come in such an hour as I thought not, and as a snare. See Acts i, 11; Matt. xxiv, and xxv; Luke xii, 37–49; John xiv, 3; 1 Cor, i, 7; Phil. xxiii. 20; and many other passages, which want of space forbid my mentioning. When I have read these and other Scriptures on this point, particularly the signs numerous and unmistakable of the approach of his advent, I have felt to rejoice in view of deliverance; and exclaim, "Come, dear Saviour; come quickly!" Sometimes I have ventured to assert my hope that he whom we follow, and profess so to love, was soon coming for the deliverance of his children.

It does seem that if we really loved him as we do an earthly parent or friend, we would rejoice at the prospect of his coming, even if the proofs of his near arrival were not perfectly clear.

The world has laughed at my delusion, while my brethren often seemed indifferent, if not opposed to such thoughts—such sweet hopes. I do not conceive myself to be the only one among our people, who thus loves to view his coming near. Nor do I feel to shrink from my hope because it is unpopular. Our great Master was unpopular—was set at naught—not many of the rulers and mighty men believed; and shall not a poor worm become unpopular in trying imperfectly to follow him? Nor do I think that all, at least all of my brethren who oppose such a view, do so from a want of charity; because they really think it to be wrong, while there are those I fear who oppose it with much earnestness, simply because it is not Seventh-day Baptismism. But the thing I wish to know, and hope by this article to induce my brethren, to some extent, to think upon and consider, is this—is there not by far too great a lethargy upon us, in this direction? Do we not pass it by too lightly, as a thing almost unworthy our notice? Again I say it is an important subject, and if the prevailing opinion among those who believe his coming near, is incorrect, it is our duty by a fair, thorough, and public investigation, to prove it such; if not, it is our duty, and in truth our glorious privilege to embrace it, and be comforted and strengthened by it. If the entire "advent movement" (as it seems plainly to be), is of God, better acknowledge it, even though unpopular, than oppose, "lest haply we be found to fight against God." We may be among those who shall be crying peace and safety, when he shall appear; certainly, if he should come now, we should as a people, fear to be found among that class.

But says one—Gleaner, why not do something besides find fault? Brother, if I know my own heart, I have not written a word in a fault-finding spirit. I have written upon this subject, feeling that if there be any point upon which there is danger of our being too remiss, that it is upon that point we should write; not as fault-finders, but as brethren seeking for our mutual good, and for truth. But say you this is "Adventism?" Brother, if it be truth, it will make no difference with "Our Father" by what name it is called. I know that a "Millerite," or an "Adventist," with many is but another name for heretic, fanatic, or bigot; yet this should not hinder us in our researches for truth; and that which is founded upon the Bible, claims at least a candid investigation. We, as a people, are, I believe, believers in the second personal appearing of our Saviour. The question then is, when? And how shall we find out when it will be, unless we talk about and investigate it? We may pass it lightly by, and say we believe that it will not be for ages yet to come; but our belief will not affect the truth—and yet while we refuse it a candid investigation, we act as though we thought it would.

The fig-tree will bud at the appointed time, though we may claim that it is yet many days to the summer. I fain would talk long and kindly with my brethren, not to dictate, but to get at the truth; but space will not permit. But brethren, how much of truth may we refuse to seek, or having found, to promulgate, because it is outside of our former method of thinking? May God direct us into all truth. GLEANER.