R. F. C by R. F. Cottrell

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1860

R. F. C

By R. F. Cottrell

Bro. Smith: Since writing the above I have seen Review No. 16, containing an article from Bro. Loughborough, recommending that we make us a name in order to have the benefits of law. He reasons that if it is right for individuals to hold property according to law, it is right for the church. To this I reply that the church now holds property by law, by entrusting it in the hands of individuals. This we can continue to do. We can trust each other, thank the Lord! and if any man proves a Judas, we can still bear the loss and trust the Lord. And as for insurance companies, if it is right for individuals to lean on them, I presume it is right to get church property insured. But I do not believe it is right for any believer in present truth to strike hands with insurance companies at all. The church to whom God is restoring the gifts of the Spirit, and leading them out of Babylon and Egypt, need not trust in worldly physicians to insure their lives and their health, nor worldly capitalists to insure their property. Better pay our premium to the Lord; he will protect us. Our individual, and our church property is the Lord's. Let us do our duty and trust him to take care of his own.

The responsibility of the Office debts and liabilities ought not, and, in my estimation, does not, rest upon Bro. White. I am glad he has spoken upon this point. If any have means in the Office that they are unwilling to trust to the Lord and his people as a body, without making any individual or individuals responsible for the same, I hope they will withdraw it. The church can raise the amount and pay them off. There may be those that need what they have lent to the Office. Such certainly should be paid; and if we are the church that we profess to be, and which we fully believe we are, they will be; and there will be no necessity of going to law "before the unjust" in the case—it can be settled among "the saints."

I hope that the Lord will direct in this matter. I have entire confidence in the work in which we are engaged. The message is infallible; and I am determined to go with it to the end. I believe the Lord will give wisdom to his servants. Meanwhile it is my prayer that God will avert what I now believe would be an evil in his sight, and that we all may get the victory over the beast, his image, his mark and the number of his name.