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The Poorer Class

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1863

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 21, No. 22.

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“The Poorer Class.”

By M. E. Cornell

THE objection raised by some against the present truth and its effects is, that only the poorer class embrace it. But instead of this being against the truth it is highly in its favor. The rich have rarely embraced the truth when it has been preached in its purity.
Jesus of Nazareth was a model preacher. His preaching, his blessings, and his promises were to the poor. “Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Luke vi, 20. He was “anointed to preach the gospel to the poor.” When John Baptist would know whether he was the true Christ, the men were to tell John that, “To the poor the gospel is preached.”
If the rich heard him they were generally offended, but “the common people heard him gladly.” When the rich man that had great possessions went away sorrowful, Jesus said unto his disciples, “A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
The kingdom is promised to the poor. Says the apostle James, “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him?” With this agree the words of Paul, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen.” 1 Cor. i, 27-28.
As a general thing, the truth is too strait for the rich and the aristocrat—they are not willing to come down; also for the poor who are steeped in crime, and wallowing in their own filthiness—they are not willing to come up. It is the “common people,” the worthy, industrious, honest poor, that hear the truth gladly.
The popular churches of this day, like the Jewish church, can boast of their multitude of great and rich men; but the true church of Christ is a “little flock,” chosen out of the worthy poor, or common people. These are the class that are most willing to make the sacrifice, and give all for Christ. Occasionally those who are rich and proud, believe the truth and obey it; but the cases are still more rare where the very filthy and degraded of earth are ever corrected by it. Both extremes are bad, while the medium is the “good ground.”
If persons are too proud, or like Martha of old, are over careful, and troubled about many things, they must be corrected by the truth; if, on the other hand, persons are lazy and filthy, there is but little hope that they will be corrected. Cleanliness is not pride, neither is filthiness humility. There is more hope of the industrious proud, than of the slack and lazy poor; but in either case the life must be corrected by the gospel. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It has power to correct and save all; but the mass are not willing to reform. A remnant will be saved, because they receive the love of the truth. “The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the holy One of Israel.” Praise the Lord for such a gospel, and for such a hope. M. E. CORNELL.