Our Position by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 25, 1865

Our Position.

By James White

As a general thing, Seventh-day Adventists take new positions with great caution. But when, by comparing prophecy with passing events, evidence seems complete, they do not hesitate to take positions which appear bold and startling.

The present is a rapid age. The past four years have furnished centuries of history. Prophecy is rapidly fulfilling, and the end is hastening on. The grand and glorious consummation of the Christian's hope is soon to be realized.

The Almighty has a controversy with this revolted world. He will punish crime, and vindicate righteousness. In our own sad country his steps in terrible majesty have been heard, punishing the oppressor, and breaking the fetters of the oppressed. And may we not expect his hand to turn and overturn, crowding the events of a century into a single day, until the great controversy shall close, sin be fully punished, sinners cease to be, and the just be crowned with everlasting glory? We see no other safe position for the waiting, watching ones than this.

We invite the reader's special attention to the articles in this number entitled, The Seven Seals, and War and the Sealing. These were published nearly three years since. The position in reference to a time of comparative peace in our country, in which time the great work of sealing would be accomplished, was then taken by faith in the infallibility of the prophetic word. The condition of our national affairs then promised almost any thing but peace.

A few months since the nation was agonized by another call for three hundred thousand more men for the army and navy. Seventh-day Adventists felt this last call most deeply. In the Review for Jan. 31, 1865, appeared the article, which is given again upon another page headed, Non-combatants—Their Duty in Reference to the Present War. This was endorsed by the General Conference Committee as follows—

DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER.

We, the General Conference Committee of S. D. Adventists, are gratified with the article presented by Bro. White in another column, entitled, Non-combatants. We are happy to endorse the position he has taken, and agreeably to his suggestions would recommend to all our brethren to observe Sabbath, Feb. 11, as a day of fasting and prayer, for the objects specified in said article. JOHN BYINGTON, J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, GEO. W. AMADON. } Gen. Conf. Com.

Our people were unanimous in the observance of the day and enjoyed a season of self-examination, humiliation, and an unusual spirit of prayer. The work among our people generally deepened, and the burden of the matter rested with great weight upon many of the church at Battle Creek, especially upon those connected with the Office of publication.

In the Review for Feb. 21, 1865, appeared the article from the General Conference Committee, entitled, "The Time Has Come," given again in this number. The four successive days of humiliation, fasting and prayer were observed by our people everywhere. These were meetings of the deepest interest ever held by our people. The burden of prayer was as follows:

That, in the language of the Apostle, "we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
That the impending draft might fall favorably upon those who had enlisted under the Prince of Peace, especially his ambassadors, and were true to the constitution and laws of high Heaven.
That confusion might be sent into the councils of the rebels, and that fear and faintness of heart might seize their leaders.
That Providence would direct in the councils and action of those who were for freedom and union, and bring as far as possible, bloodless victories to the loyal North.
That shackles might fall from the bond-men, and the way be prepared for the message—bearing the seal of the living God upon its front—to be proclaimed in the ears of all, both white and black.

Never have we realized such intensity of feeling—such drawing of the Spirit to the very throne of Heaven—such confidence in the answer of fervent prayers—as during these days of humiliation and prayer. The influence of this season has had a most blessed and sanctifying result upon the church. We have not seen better times in Battle Creek, and testimony from all parts of the field agrees with ours.

Such experience, with so clear a prophecy as that which speaks of the restraining of the winds of war and strife until the servants of God shall be sealed, cannot be set aside as of trifling value. To those who have participated in it, it is of vast importance. And what gives this experience its thrilling interest is the fact that the more than ten-thousand commandment-keeping petitioners have seen already the answer of their prayers to a wonderful degree.

The air rang with shouts, Richmond is taken! and Lee has surrendered! Cities and villages were illuminated. Bonfires and rockets streamed up to the heavens, while cheers for Lincoln, Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan rang again. But God's loyal people were on their knees, blessing Heaven for the answer of their prayers, and weeping with joy over the faithfulness of God in fulfilling his word.

But at the very hour when the North was drunken with joy over victories that made every loyal heart glad, and when many were drunken too with intoxicating liquors, and were making themselves more like devils than like men, the assassin was aiming the deadly shot at the brain of the President. Terrible news flashed over all the wires of the land, and a nation wild with joy, is at once in tears, and draped in mourning. But those who had been learning by happy experience to lean upon a mightier arm than that of man—although they mourned that the chief magistrate, so amiable, humane, and beloved, had fallen by the hand of a ruffian—stood firm, trusting in God, that he would do, and suffer to be done, that which in the end would be best.

Of the future we would speak cautiously. We fear that the hopes of those who look for union and peace, such as our land once enjoyed, and that, too, freed from the crime of slavery, will never be realized. The slave-power has been beaten upon the field of battle; but the spirit that leads men to cool-blooded assassination, and crime of the most fiendish character, still burns in the hearts of pro-slavery rebels.

But whatever may be the history of the future, it seems evident that the end of the great American war has virtually come, and that, too, by the hand of Providence, that the way might be prepared for the proclamation of those great truths which will result in the sealing of the 144,000. What an hour is the present! How grand and glorious is the position of those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ! How dangerous delays and disobedience now! And how blessed to labor, and suffer, and weep, and rejoice in the last great gathering of sheaves for the heavenly garner! God help the waiting ones to be faithful!

The masses, who have no faith in the fulfillment of prophecy in our time, cannot appreciate our position. To them it will look fanciful, fanatical, egotistical. And we may expect that blind unbelief will scoff at the precious truth for this time. He who would speak of it, and the answer of our prayers, in a spirit of carnal boasting is unworthy a place with the people of God. While we believe, and enjoy the truth in our own hearts, and our lives are molded by it, let us seek earnestly to know how to speak, and when to speak forth the precious truth of the Lord, so as to glorify its adorable Author, and benefit and bless our fellow-men.