Hiding Places by Charles Grandison Finney

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Dec 11, 1879

Hiding Places.

By Charles Grandison Finney

A GREAT many people hide in the church. Judas Iscariot crept in there to hide. A minister of the Dutch Reform Church told me once of a case in point just here. A man who had been confirmed in that church was out at sea in a fearful storm. It was a time of intense alarm, and many were exceedingly fearful of death, not to say also of that terrible state beyond. When they said to him, How is it that you are so cool? he replied, "What have I to fear? I belong to the South Dutch!" Many hide under orthodox creeds. They are not Unitarians; they are not Mormons; they are not Universalists; they are orthodox! Such religious opinions held so tenaciously must, they think, insure their safety. Others hide under the plea of a sinful nature. They are naturally unable to do anything. Here they have found a sure retreat. They are very willing to do all their duty; but their sinful nature is all against them, and what can they do? This is a refuge of lies. Some dodge under professors of religion. I fear there are many such here among us. Alas! your hiding-place will fail you in the day of trial! When the hail comes and the storm rolls up fearfully, and the awful thunder breaks with appalling crash, you will try in vain to find your professor—to hide under his wing! Where is he now? Suppose he were as bad as you claim, how much can he help you in that all-devouring storm? If he is not as good as he should be, you ought to be better than he, and not try to hide yourself under his shortcomings.—Finney.