The Rise of the Third Message
By S. N. Haskell
Bro. WHITE: It truly cheers our hearts to hear of the progress of the truth in many places, especially the tent enterprise this season. I have thought much of the rise of the third message. Only a few short years ago there were but a few, yes, very few, who kept the Sabbath from the message. Then the messengers would travel a long distance to meet with only two or three of like precious faith, and perhaps a little company of some half a dozen, more or less, would turn out to a meeting. When any one came into the Sabbath, it was a subject of special interest and remark, the numbers that kept the Sabbath were so few. But the infancy of the third message is in the past. While Satan has fought it at every step and on every side, it has steadily risen higher and higher. The perfect harmony of truth has increased in beauty and loveliness, as it has shone more bright and clear. And while every other class of Advent people have been multiplying into various parties or sects, by differences of belief, and growing more and more like the world, the Seventh-day Adventists have been continually advancing in numbers and union, and becoming more unlike the world in pure principle. Think of the tent-meetings commanding a congregation of from eight to twelve hundred, and a little church being raised up in most places where the tents are pitched. Other bodies get up an excitement for a few days, but it proves in the end to be a fire of their own kindling. See Isa. l, 11. Their converts are strange children; a month devours them. Hosea v, 6, 7. They have not the truth, hence have not its sanctifying influence on their hearts to keep them from the spirit of the world. Dear brethren and sisters, our responsibility must be great. We have seen the beauty and harmony of the third angel's message. We have also seen the condescension of the Lord to this people, in the manifestation of certain gifts, especially the gift of prophecy, in correcting wrongs and enlightening our minds in regard to events just before us. Publications that treat upon every subject that has a particular bearing upon the time in which we live are ready to hand. Truly, if we perish here our responsibility must be great. If the Saviour could say to the wicked Jews that all the righteous blood shed from righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias should come upon that generation, Matt. xxiii, 35, 36, shall we not, if we reject the light and truth of the last message of mercy, be classed with them of whom it is said, And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. Rev. xviii, 24. No people on the earth have ever had the light of truth that we have; hence the responsibility that rests upon us never rested upon a people before us. In view of these things we have something to do, an effort to put forth, an unreserved consecration to make, so that our entire will and being will beat in perfect harmony with the revealed will of God. May the Lord help me, with all the dear saints, to so improve the light that we do receive, that we may be sanctified through the truth, have the covering of the Lord drawn over us, and finally be saved in God's everlasting kingdom, is my prayer.
S. N. HASKELL.