p. 157 | A High standard by E. GOODRICH

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 14, 1863

A High standard.

By E. GOODRICH

It is often, though incorrectly remarked, that “It is a poor rule that will not work both ways.” It is true that when the relation of things and things to be compared are equal, a good rule will work both ways. But when the things to be compared have no affinity for, or bear no resemblance to, each other, as when we wish to compare vice with virtue, or attempt to weigh truth in the same scale with error, then, though we have ever so good a rule it will by no means give the same result reasoning either way. As to truth she shines by her own native luster. She needs not, she cannot borrow, beauty; for she is beauty herself. But it is not so with error or falsehood. All her charms are borrowed. All her loveliness is stolen; and it is only by assuming the name, and wearing the garb of truth, that she gains admirers. Thus it is with virtue and vice: while the former contains all that is amiable and is the sum of all worth, and therefore cannot be false even to herself, the latter having nothing that she may call her own, only allures by false charms those who are afterwards her slaves.

A high standard. All may have their mottoes, their maxims, and rules of action; and it is well that they should; for perfection in theory necessarily precedes perfection in practice. No person can be perfect in practice following an imperfect theory. And no man can be a high Christian having a low standard of action.

Men are seldom if ever as good as they profess, while they are frequently, if not generally lower in practice than in theory. And the thing is no wonder; for it is far easier to design than to execute, to preach than to practice. Even the clinch-fisted miser may talk benevolently and praise deeds of charity; yet when he is called upon to put his hand into his pocket and pull out the stingy coin, his treasure around which clings his very soul, the thing is easier said than done.

And it is true that a man with fair exterior,* with smiling countenance, and smooth words may harbor deadly hatred in his heart. The openly professed Christian may be in reality no more than a painted infidel. A man may profess faith in the operations of the Spirit of God, yea, may profess to be sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and yet be as carnal as any beast of the field, yea, we may profess faith in all the gifts and graces of the Spirit and have none of them.

But suppose we change the thing around and see if the rule will work just the same both ways. Who ever saw a devout Christian openly denouncing Christianity. Who ever saw the man who loved purity and truth profess to love the unclean and false. Again, would, or could, a man in whom the love of God was shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost, say that he did not believe there was any spirit but the Bible? No; the rule will not work at all this way; for we never give a man credit or judgment for more than what he claims. We never suppose a man better than he professes to be.

The foregoing views and principles being true we may reasonably ask, Where are we? and what can we expect of the churches of the present day? How can they expect that God will, or can, in a copious and wonderful manner pour out his Spirit upon them when with united voice they contend that the age of wonders, the age of apostles, the age of prophets, the age of miracles, the age of healing, the age of different kinds of tongues, the age of extraordinary faith and all such like, has long since passed away? How can God favor such a people?

Take those even who aim the highest; who seeing the apostasy of the times and the downward tendency of all things strive to lift up the standard of truth and vital piety by painting in the most glowing colors some of the apostolic churches or models to which we should look, and after which we should pattern, in our lives and walk. Go to these and in so many words ask them how many of the characteristics of an apostolic church have the churches of the day a right to expect or pray for. The idea of a model is a pattern to be imitated or followed. And this idea that any of the apostolic churches having all the gifts bestowed upon and set in the church can be a proper model for us and yet we are to have but a precious few of the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit is itself a model humbug; it is a body without breath, a form without the power. And it is unaccountably strange that those who profess to be looking for the coming of Christ and who expect us to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, when any one instance of such faith is presented before them as a practical thing, are ready to scoff you out of countenance. I do not say that those who profess to keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus are just what they ought to be, and where they ought to be, but this I do say, to turn back and strike hands with them who contend for a low standard is death without remedy.

E. GOODRICH. Edinboro, Pa.