What a Pity! by J. A. Dayton

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 12, 1864

“What a Pity!”

By J. A. Dayton

EXCLAIMED a lady who was conversing not long since upon the merits of a very respectable neighbor. "She is a good neighbor, kind, and winning in all her ways. I believe she's a Christian, too, and I cannot help loving her; but oh, what a pity, she's an Adventist!" Yes, replied the other, too bad! in a tone which evidently implied that in her estimation, at least, this was a crime so great as to outweigh every other consideration, and sink her many virtues in the dust—they were counted lost in view of this one glaring defect. What a pity! she's an Adventist! And inwardly I could but echo her words, What a pity! as before my mind's vision arose the vast multitude who, like them, feel if they do not speak it, What a pity!

But why? Truly are the words of the apostle fulfilled before our eyes. The time has already come when they cannot endure sound doctrine. Here, in this so-called Christian age, is a lovely woman, a faithful wife, a devoted mother, a child of God, pitied, because she keeps his commandments, hopes in his word, loves the Saviour, and looks forward with bright anticipation to the time when he will come to take his children home. Ask them if any one of these things are wrong? Oh no, but what a pity! she's an Adventist! Sadly my thoughts ran forward to the time when the seven last plagues will be poured out without mixture of mercy, when there shall be a famine in the land, a famine for hearing the words of the Lord, when men shall cry for mercy and shall not find it, when Jesus, whose coming they now so much deride, shall appear in glory with his holy angels to reap the harvest of the earth, and while those who long for his appearing are caught up to meet him in the air; those, who now look upon them with pity and contempt, will again in tones of utter wretchedness and agony as they view the reward that might have been theirs, exclaim, What a pity! And methinks the angels of God and the happy saints as they witness their just doom and remember that Jesus shed his precious blood that all who would, might have eternal life, will answer the sad wail as it goes up from earth, What a pity! Lord help thy children so to live that no sin may be found against them save that they love thine appearing.

J. A. DAYTON.

Chesaning, Mich.