ACCREDITED LEADERS

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1861

ACCREDITED LEADERS.

PROBABLY no man ever more fervently desired to be led in the true and right way than did the psalmist David. No one certainly has expressed himself more ardently in this respect. Whenever he took up his pen, his hand was swift to transcribe such expressions as these: "Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness." "Lead me in a plain path." "For thy name's sake, lead me and guide me." "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." "Lead me in the way everlasting." "Lead me into the land of uprightness." And in the midst of all these fervent desires and ardent wishes to be led in the right ways of the Lord, he tells us of the leaders by which he wishes to be guided. "O send out," he exclaims, "thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles." Ps. xliii, 3. Such were the leaders that David desired; and whatever leaders were thought safe and sufficient by so careful a man as he, to them we may safely trust the direction of our steps.

"Thy light and thy truth"—the illuminating power of thy Holy Spirit, and the truth revealed in thy word and contained in thy promises; in other words that "Spirit and truth," in which we are required to worship God. Whoever is led by these, so long as he presses onward in the way to which they point, need have no fears. His steps will not slide. He will move in harmony with God's people, through his pilgrimage here, and will not fail of the eternal rest at last. A church thus led, will not move contrary to God's order and providence in any essential step which they may take.

Now these leaders for which David prayed, will be the leaders of that company which in any age constitute the people of God; for it is only to the righteous nation which keeps the truth that the gates are to be opened at last; and it is only those who have the Spirit of Christ who are accounted his. It becomes important, therefore, not only to strive to find the truth, and walk in the light, but also to search for that people who are led thereby. If God has a people upon earth, they are a people who are guided by these two great principles. Where are this people? Reader; we appeal to you. Where are the people who give evidence that they are led by the light of God's Spirit and countenance, and the truth of his word? Are they those who reject, or those who keep, the fourth commandment of the decalogue? And again, what people would you suppose most likely to have the greater measure of light beaming upon their pathway, those who receive, or those who reject, the special operations of that agency which God has appointed to be the light bearer to his people, namely, his Holy Spirit? If those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus according to the Bible definition of those terms are not the ones whom God is leading by his light and truth, then where can that people be found? We say this not boastfully, but as an expression of gratitude for the way in which as a body this people have thus far been led.

But says one, Your present theory gives evidence of light and truth; but I know not that your past history affords any evidence that you have heretofore been led by these principles. We answer, It is to this very history that we appeal in proof of our proposition. Look at the progress of this cause, from its small beginning to the present time. See it gradually and steadily rising and extending its influence. Behold it counting its advocates at first by dozens, and now by thousands. Mark how from its first circumscribed limits, its sound has gone forth to every free State in the Union, penetrating even to California and Oregon.

But it may here be asked, Would you consider the spread of a doctrine evidence that it is of God? If so, do not Mahometanism, Catholicism, Mormonism and Spiritualism, which have spread so rapidly, and drawn so many thousands into their folds, give evidence of being genuine works? We answer, The progress of any cause considered in itself merely would not prove that cause divine; but, taken in connection with other things, it would. We must look at the doctrine which is being inculcated, and the motives which are set before the people. Do you not perceive that every delusion and error that springs up, the effects of which will be to deceive the unwary, and land souls in perdition at last, will receive the active co-operation of one who exercises a very powerful influence in this world, and who is the enemy of all righteousness. Satan can well judge of the purity of all doctrines, and of the tendency of all these movements among men; and every cause except the true one, no matter what it is, may count upon efficient aid from him in extending its influence and increasing its votaries. But when a cause arises based upon the unadulterated truth of God's word, embracing in its doctrines the commandments of God which Satan hates, and the faith of Jesus, which more than all else excites his rage, a cause whose object is to inculcate every good, and uproot every evil with those who embrace it—from whom may such a cause expect help and prosperity? From any evil agency? Never. When such a cause prospers, its prosperity comes from God, and from him alone.

We are now prepared to look further at the progress of the present truth. The labors and sacrifices of its early friends have been blest of God. Distracting influences have been kept at bay. Dark and fanatical spirits have been providentially discovered, and the little flock saved from the injury they would otherwise have effected. The weapons formed against it have not prospered. And all along the wavering and half-hearted, the complaining, the murmuring, and the impure, have been separated from the ranks. Some who commenced at first with only slight departures from the spirit of this work, mistrusting some direction in which the cause was moving, picking a few flaws with some plank in the platform, or finding fault with some appendage of the message, notwithstanding the body were satisfied therewith, have landed at last in the stupid and drivelling bogs of utter disbelief of the truth. God has preserved the health and strength of his servants, and given edge to his truth. As the progress of the cause has developed new wants, the burden has been laid upon them, nor could they rest till the lack was supplied, and the want met. And thus has the work gone on, till now the Office of publication is established in a central, and easily accessible portion of a field already large, yet daily increasing its extent and interest; and books and papers are rapidly multiplied by two of the most important agencies which the advancement and ingenuity of the nineteenth century have sought out, namely, the steam engine and the power press. We refer those who may wish to read much of the history of this work in the experience of the most intimate friends, to Spiritual Gifts Vol. 2.

And having come thus far, what next? The cause is progressing, and new wants are manifesting themselves. So it will probably continue. Shall they be met? An increase of means is required; and those with whose very being the interests of the cause are interwoven, are impressed with the subject of systematic benevolence, than which there is not a more beautiful, efficient, and scriptural system to be found. But some start back at it. What is the matter? Have the light and truth which have thus far been leading, suddenly ceased? Again: for managing the amount of capital necessary for the prosecution of this expanding work, and in order to a more equal distribution of burdens, a business organization is necessary. The necessity and propriety of this are seen at once by the great majority; but some are immediately thrown into a panic of fear, or a labyrinth of mistrust. What is the matter here? We ask again, Has the light suddenly gone out? Are the body all at once left to plunge into a course which will end only in destruction? Has the pillar by day and the fire by night been swept away by some storm-cloud of coming evil? If not, do we well to distrust God, and flee at phantoms of our own conjuring? And again, it is found necessary to have some title by which to designate this people. A name, at once simple, appropriate and indicative of the leading points of our faith, is suggested and recommended; and yet in the eyes of some this instantly becomes a great camel which they can by no means swallow. How is this? Once more we put the question, Have the leaders, light and truth, suddenly deserted the little flock? Have their eyes all been drawn away by an ignis fatuus from the true light? We do not believe it. We believe that in all these things the church are being providentially guided; that light and truth are still leading the way; and that it will as clearly appear hereafter that these moves are right and in God's order, as it now appears that past moves, which have been more or less stanchly opposed, have been directed of him. And while we continue to plead earnestly with the Lord to still send out his light and his truth, and to let them lead us, we do not believe he will withhold them from us.

We cannot close without just glancing forward to that glorious place in which they will lead us. David said, Let them bring me unto thy holy hill. Even there will they bring us; even to that mount Zion on which the seer of Patmos saw a hundred and forty-four thousand standing with the Lamb.