p. 77 | A Great Crisis by R. F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 3, 1863

A Great Crisis

By R. F. Cottrell

Is evidently before us. We shall need to be wholly converted to God in order to be prepared for it. There is great danger of self-deception. We may have adopted, early in life, some idea or notion into our religious or even political creed, that we consider as established beyond question; and, in such case, there is danger of trusting to our own perverted judgment to the rejection of the clearly revealed will of God. The reason why revelation is rejected by so many, is because men assume to judge of its requirements and teachings by their own depraved natures and perverted judgments. God gives us evidences sufficient to prove the truth of his revealed word.

Then he requires us to receive it as a whole, not objecting to some parts which are not in perfect harmony with our prejudices, or which are not clear to our mind. When sufficient evidence has been given to establish the truth as a whole, the particulars, though they may not coincide with our creed, are to be received by authority. This submission to the authority of the Author of revelation, even in things in which our judgment fails to perceive the reasonableness, is the result of being converted to God. It is because man is not capable of directing himself, that revelation condescends to offer him guidance. A guide that consults, and always approves our judgment, is of no use to us. The pocket compass is of no use to the man lost in the wilderness, who always condemns it and rejects its guidance, when it disagrees with his opinion of the way it ought to point.

The great danger to which we are exposed is that we shall willfully follow our own way, to the rejection of the revealed will of God. The Lord offers us help. Shall we accept of it, or shall we say that we can help ourselves? Some are willing to receive the teaching of God through the gifts of the Spirit, so long as it is in perfect harmony with their views and feelings, and consequently is useless to them as a guide, but when it corrects their errors and reproves their sins, and proposes to lead them into the right way, they reject it. God cannot help them, unless they will accept of his help.

God has seen fit, in his great mercy, to reprove the wrongs of ministers in the present truth. I desire and design to be benefited by it. I want a more perfect consecration to the will of God. I want to feel the solemn responsibility that rests upon me to preach the word, and to let my life correspond with the solemn truths which I utter. To be instant in season, out of season, to reprove, to rebuke with all long-suffering and doctrine. I want to feel the woe that is upon me, if I neglect duty, and be willing to suffer with Christ before I reign with him.

My brethren in the ministry, shall we, after having preached the gospel to others, become cast away? May God forbid! Let us heed the testimony and come up to the work. Let us be as willing to sacrifice, as our brethren who contribute of their means to advance the cause. We know but little of suffering yet. Compare them with the sufferings of the apostle to the Gentiles, and we shall be ashamed to mention them. Let us awake to duty and get ready for the refreshing.

I humbly ask the prayers of the people of God, of those with whom God communes by his Spirit. Pray that God will give me spiritual discernment and overcoming grace.

R. F. COTTERELL.