PREACHING TO PREACHERS by W. S. Foote

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 29, 1859

PREACHING TO PREACHERS.

By W. S. Foote

BY W. S. FOOTE.

WE wish to address a few words to those through whose influence thousands are forming characters which will insure to them eternal life, or its opposite, eternal death. We believe that some of you are honest, and verily believe that you are trying to do God service, and to point out to others the way to everlasting life. We believe also that on the other hand there are those among you to whom the Lord might say, "Ye have made the hearts 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." Ezek. xiii, 22. And there may be among the religious teachers of the different churches some possessing the character and qualifications of those spoken of by Paul in 2 Cor. xi, 14, 15. "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works."

We believe that in the midst of so many religious creeds and opposite opinions there must be a vast amount of error, and that if it is true that "straight is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life," God with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning must be displeased with those who are sowing tares. "Wo be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture saith the Lord." Isa. xxiii, 1.

"If they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from the evil of their doings." Vs. 22. In verse 29 of the same chapter we find the inquiry, "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" Why then is it, that throughout the (so called) christian churches iniquity thus abounds, and that sin in every form is tolerated? Why is there so much of hypocrisy and the love of this world? Why are such multitudes of professors of religion among the first to follow after the fashions and follies of the day? Why this downward course which must inevitably end in everlasting death? Is it not for want of an exhibition before the minds of the people of plain Bible truth? Are we not warranted in believing that the truth accompanied by the influence of the Holy Spirit in answer to humble prayer is what is needed for the salvation of sinners? Will not God bless his own appointed means of grace? Will his word (when faithfully preached) return unto him void, and not accomplish that whereunto he sent it? Is it not well for both the teachers and taught, in the different organizations of the land to inquire why it is, in a country blessed with so many religious privileges, numbering theological seminaries by scores, with such an array of talent and learning among the professed preachers of the gospel, that sin abounds to such an alarming extent, in and out of the professed church? The time has been within the remembrance of many of us, when under the preaching of the gospel, one here and another there were persuaded to break off their sins by righteousness, and their iniquities by turning unto the Lord; and it happened, and that frequently, without the extra effort now made use of for the same purpose. And judging from the results of the extra efforts, or "protracted religious meetings" held so often all over the land in years past, we are constrained to believe that there is something radically wrong in the religious teaching of the day; and if there are things that stand in the way of the progress of truth and the salvation of souls, certainly it becomes us to inquire what they are, and in the strength of the Lord to try to remove them.

Do you think that you please God by telling the people as many of you do, that the study of the prophecies and the reading of the Old Testament scriptures is unprofitable? By so doing do you not reject two thirds or more of the word of God?

Why is it that when evidence is produced which cannot be either gainsayed or resisted successfully, that under the gospel dispensation the "seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God," that you are so bitterly opposed to it? Why in order to get rid of the Sabbath, are you trying to persuade the people that the law of God or ten commandments is abrogated?

Why, when you have abundant evidence to the contrary, do you teach others that man is an immortal being, when we are told in plain words in the Bible that "God only hath immortality." Why do you thus help to build up the greatest delusion of the day by encouraging the people to go to the dead for knowlege instead of to the living God, when the word of God tells us, "The dead know not anything?" Why tell the sinner that he is to live forever in misery when God says "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Shall we ask those who profess to be preachers of the gospel south of "Mason and Dickson's line," Why do you by precept and example support one of the greatest systems of iniquity which disgrace humanity?

Without lengthening out this catalogue of evils which might easily be done, we ask you to look at those mentioned and not wonder at the corruption within the churches, or why those who profess to have "got religion" during your long winter meetings, should sweat it all out during the warm weather of the next summer. Can God consistently bless the labors of those who are engaged in teaching false doctrines? Are we to expect grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

The true watchmen on the walls of Zion, are in these latter days those spoken of in Isa. lii. "They shall lift up the voice, together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion." At the first advent of our Saviour into our fallen world, the Lord brought in Zion from her idolatrous wanderings; and having again departed from her God, and having been converted by the world (we speak of the great mass of professors), he is now bringing in Zion again. That this may be done, he has commissioned men, and we believe of the right stamp too, to undertake to build up the foundations of many generations which ungodly men and evil spirits have partially thrown down.

Yet the work is the work of the Lord. He is preparing a people to meet their King at his coming and kingdom. Their number will be small. In Jer. iii, it is said "I will take you one of a city and two of a family and I will bring you to Zion, and will give you pastors after mine own heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

We who have heard and have embraced the truth, are rejoicing in it with joy unspeakable. Evidences of the truth of our position are thickening about us daily. The word of God which has been to us, and has been to thousands, in part a sealed book, we now find "a light to our path and a lamp to our feet." And we are determined through grace divine, to "keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," and get ready to meet our Lord who is near even at the door.

Not only so, but we know that there are yet honest ones among your people who must and will come out from your city of confusion, "or partake of her sins and receive of her plagues." The "time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation" is near at hand. We know that the time is near when there will be but two classes. One will have the "name of God written in their foreheads," the other the "mark of the beast."

And now we beseech you to stand out of the way of God's people. If you will not enter into his coming kingdom do not hinder them from doing so. But we hope and pray that God may enlighten your minds and purify your hearts, and fit you for his kingdom which is to fill the whole earth. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

Pendleton, O, Dec 1859.