THE CAUSE by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 2, 1861

THE CAUSE.

By Editor

THE highest interest of thousands is the cause of present truth. All earthly treasures are small when compared with it. This deep interest has arisen in the minds of the devoted friends of the cause from the force of evidence that God is leading out from the churches and the world a people for himself, to whom he is unfolding truth, long covered by the traditions of men. The evidences that we have already reached the time for the proclamation of the last great message, with its soul-stirring, testing points of truth, newly opened to the mind, harmonizing with the great system of revealed truth, have moved to action. And as true believers have moved forward with a spirit of sacrifice and zeal in harmony with their profession of faith, the Holy Spirit has rested upon them, confirming their faith, and leading them to act as if what they believed had become actual knowledge. This is not fanaticism, but the result of true faith. Faith that will not move men to act, is not Bible faith.

But with true faith our ministers have gone out into the world, trusting in God who called them to do his work. They cheerfully sacrificed the blessings of home that they might save men from the second death. They gave up worldly prospects, making no calculations for future life, and engaged in the work of the salvation of their fellow-men with zeal and love for souls in a degree like Christ's first ministers. Their efforts were blest wherever they labored. Scarcely a meeting was held anywhere, under any circumstances, where the truth was advocated, but what more or less embraced it. Our paper from week to week bore the glad tidings of numerous additions, cheering the hearts of all to toil on.

Our people also, with some exceptions, acted well their part. They opened their hands wide to the wants of the cause, and men who loved this world, and made its treasures their god, on receiving the message in its purity, opened their hearts and their purses freely. Some have shown their devotion to the cause, and their firm faith in the positions taken, in that they have sold their homes and farms, used a share, and with the remainder bought smaller homes. This was the faith of those who first embraced and proclaimed the message. Their influence was felt, and dreaded by the churches who feared they would lose their most devoted members. The establishment of the steam press, the sending out of tents, and the general prompt action of our people in sustaining the cause, in connection with the harmony and clearness of the unpopular doctrine taught, attracted much attention, and with many commanded great respect. The ears of the people seemed to be open to our message, and their hearts ready to feel. Our ministers were generally well cared for, our periodicals had gathered friends and patrons sufficient to support them, and our book concern had become growing and prosperous. We needed only a convenient publishing building, and the book fund somewhat increased, to have all the facilities and means to publish the truth of God's word that could be of any advantage. And now, with all the discouragements that weigh down this cause, nearly $7000 is pledged to the Publishing Association, and the money is coming in without the expense of collecting agents. The prospect that the publishing department will be properly and fully sustained is good.

When we compare our prosperous condition in this respect with others, we can better prize those stirring and practical truths we teach, which have brought so many to act well their part for God and his truth. The Sabbath Recorder for May 30, 1861, says:

"Four numbers more will complete the seventeenth volume of the Recorder. One of those numbers will be issued on the first Fifth-day in July, and will contain the proceedings in full of the Central and Western Associations. The remaining three numbers will be issued on such days as the Board of the Publishing Society, at a meeting to be held on the 19th of June, shall determine. Probably they will be issued at intervals of four weeks, which will bring the last number of the volume on the 26th of September, and enable us to give in it an account of our anniversaries, and the conclusion of the Publishing Society, as to the best way of providing the denomination with a paper in the future. "The General Agent of the Publishing Society expects to attend the meetings of the Central and Western Associations, for the purpose of reporting their proceedings, and making collections. It should be distinctly understood for the fate of the Society is in the hands of those who owe it. If they, by promptly paying what is due, enable the Society to meet its indebtedness to the late treasurer, Mr. Lyon, satisfactory arrangements for the future can no doubt be made."

The Seventh-day Baptists are an old and well-organized body. They have their institutions of learning, and educated ministers, yet they seem to be dwindling. With all their wealth, they do not own a press, therefore, instead of their office being located at some central point, where printing can be done at less expense, it is located in New York city, dependent on the press of another, where the high prices of rent, fuel, board and labor are bleeding their Publishing Society to death.

The Advent Herald for June 15, 1861 says:

"Shall this paper be continued? Shall it be continued weekly? Shall it be continued in its present size? These are questions which the standing committee will need to consider at their next meeting, unless there be a renewed and united effort, east, west and north in its support. We have lost, for the present at least, all our circulation in the seceded States; and the present general stagnation of business, cuts off to some extent the means of its friends to continue it above embarrassment. We are a good deal perplexed as to what is duty; which must be measurably determined by the disposition manifested by its friends to continue, or to dispense with this agency. We wish to observe the indications of providence, and to do that which may be God's will to his glory. We trust all who deem the continuance of this instrumentality important, will duly consider what is duty, and act accordingly—showing that brick cannot be made without the requisite material, and that when the crib remains without fodder the cattle must perish."

This paper is published by the American Millennial Association, Boston, Mass. It is conducted with ability, and has for its backers wealthy patrons and able ministers. Yet with all these advantages it from time to time talks of dying with all the apparent sincerity of a confirmed consumptive. The Herald ably advocates the personal, pre-millennial advent of Christ, the two resurrections from the dead, and the earth renewed the inheritance of the saints. It has also stood free from the bewildering fancies of the future age. But as it does not acknowledge the fulfillment of the first and second messages of Rev. xiv in the great advent movement, and does not regard the time movement as being in the special providence of God, the faith of its patrons in the soon coming of Christ falters and wanes away, and they starve for want of spiritual food. We think the figure used in the last clause of the above quotation from the Herald is most applicable—"When the crib remains without fodder the cattle must perish."

The Seventh-day Baptists and the Adventists are both small denominations, because of the unpopularity of their leading doctrines. There is a cross in the Advent, also in the Sabbath. And unless they stand in a position to receive the special favor of heaven, they must dwindle. But the Seventh-day Adventists have the double cross of the Sabbath and the Second Advent, besides other views equally objectionable. But with all this tide against us as a people, we have, by the grace of God, been able to press our way through, and gain some victories. Our ministers are generally unlearned men, many of them but striplings. Our brethren are, with few exceptions, the poor of the flock. It is because God has been on our side that we have an existence.

But the present is a time of discouragement with those whose only hope of success is that the God of Israel will go forth with us to battle. Additions to our numbers are few and feeble. They lack that consecration and strength to stand the trials of the way which characterized those who embraced the truth a few years since. The Lord does not go out with those who labor with tents, as formerly. Our publications are not being scattered, as bread cast upon the waters, as they have been. There are but few accounts of persons receiving the Sabbath from reading a tract, or a copy of the Review, compared with former accounts. Why is all this? God has not changed. His truth is the same, only as the present truth unfolds and prophecy is fulfilling, it becomes clearer and more powerful. The harvest of the earth is not ripe for the sharp sickle of the Son of man. As yet the ripening influence of the truth has extended to only a very small portion of the field. And the people are more and more ready to hear the truth. Why, then, is this state of things with us? This question is worthy of the most careful attention and prayerful investigation of every brother and sister, especially of our ministers.

Our present weak state is not because God has forsaken his truth and his people; but as a people we have, step by step, departed from him, and are, in a great measure, left to our own feebleness. There are several causes for this alarming declension; but in our opinion the chief cause has been the influence of some among us to crush the plain, pointed and pure testimony. The third message is pointed and cutting. And when its forceful testimony seemed to be losing its influence on many minds, in mercy the counsel to the seventh church of Rev. ii and iii, was opened with great power, and as it was received, new life was given to the cause everywhere, and many joined the ranks. Here is one fact worthy of notice, that whenever the most pointed, and, to the natural mind, the most objectionable testimony has been given, there have been the greatest additions to our numbers, and these have generally been persons of moral worth and decision of character, to stand best, and be a blessing to the cause.

But some did not stand free in the testimony to the Laodiceans, which encouraged at least a feeling of indifference in regard to the plain testimony which is in harmony with the counsel to the Laodiceans. This influence has greatly affected the Review. There has been a gradual letting down from that high tone of spirituality and faith, until its contents possess but little more interest than common reading matter of the numerous religious newspapers of the day. This has a discouraging and unfeeling influence upon our ministers, and upon our people, especially upon those scattered ones whose only preacher is the Review, and who have no other social meetings than the communications published in its columns.

We do not speak rashly in regard to our low state. We would not unnecessarily discourage any; but unless we see our condition, we shall never arise from it. If the causes of our backsliding be seen, they can be put away and avoided hereafter. O God, let thy people see and feel deeply, and arise in thy strength.

In order to arise there must be a general effort. We must not be too liberal and assign all the cause to others. All should humbly confess their backslidings, and come up together. The Review is backslidden. May God have mercy upon the editor, and all its contributors, and may they be imbued with the spirit and power of the present truth, that the Review may go forth like a torch-light in this dark world to be received with eagerness and joy by its thousands of devoted readers.

We feel the deepest solicitude for those dear ministers of Christ who are toiling on under present discouragements. You, dear brethren, bear heavy burdens. But gird the armor on a little closer. Unsheath the glittering Sword of the Spirit, and let that good blade cut its way through, whether men listen and weep, or scoff and turn away from the truth. Be Christ's free men. Cast your burdens on him. Do your duty faithfully, leaving with him the result. While your work calls for prudence, humility and watchfulness, it also requires boldness and decision. We beseech you, brethren, not to let the undue caution of any man have a crippling influence upon your testimony.

The impetuosity of some like S. W. R. has greatly disgusted the overcautious among us. This has had a strong tendency to cripple the testimony of those who should speak the truth pointedly in love. In this, Satan helps on one extreme, that he may more easily produce another, more fatal, if possible, to the cause.

Our brethren generally are ready to sustain the cause. We have been surprised at their faithfulness in this respect under the circumstances. But unless we have a living paper, and our ministers show more evidence of walking with God, they will not hold out. We view the cause standing in a most critical position, and recommend a day of fasting and prayer. Could all our brethren join in such a season of humiliation, self-examination and prayer, would not the Lord turn his face toward us, and restore to us the spirit and power of the third message? Brethren, let us hear from you.