the great controversy-第84章

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and　1844。　Those　who　persist　in　this　error　will　at　last　fix　upon　a　date　too
far　in　the　future　for　the　coming　of　Christ。　Thus　they　will　be　led　to　rest　in
a　false　security；　and　many　will　not　be　undeceived　until　it　is　too　late。

The　history　of　ancient　Israel　is　a　striking　illustration　of　the　past
experience　of　the　Adventist　body。　God　led　His　people　in　the　advent　movement；
even　as　He　led　the　children　of　Israel　from　Egypt。　In　the　great
disappointment　their　faith　was　tested　as　was　that　of　the　Hebrews　at　the　Red
Sea。　Had　they　still　trusted　to　the　guiding　hand　that　had　been　with　them　in

458

their　past　experience；　they　would　have　seen　the　salvation　of　God。　If　all　who
had　labored　unitedly　in　the　work　in　1844；　had　received　the　third　angel's
message　and　proclaimed　it　in　the　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　the　Lord　would
have　wrought　mightily　with　their　efforts。　A　flood　of　light　would　have　been
shed　upon　the　world。　Years　ago　the　inhabitants　of　the　earth　would　have　been
warned；　the　closing　work　completed；　and　Christ　would　have　come　for　the
redemption　of　His　people。

It　was　not　the　will　of　God　that　Israel　should　wander　forty　years　in　the
wilderness；　He　desired　to　lead　them　directly　to　the　land　of　Canaan　and
establish　them　there；　a　holy；　happy　people。　But　〃they　could　not　enter　in
because　of　unbelief。〃　Hebrews　3：19。　Because　of　their　backsliding　and
apostasy　they　perished　in　the　desert；　and　others　were　raised　up　to　enter　the
Promised　Land。　In　like　manner；　it　was　not　the　will　of　God　that　the　coming　of
Christ　should　be　so　long　delayed　and　His　people　should　remain　so　many　years
in　this　world　of　sin　and　sorrow。　But　unbelief　separated　them　from　God。　As
they　refused　to　do　the　work　which　He　had　appointed　them；　others　were　raised
up　to　proclaim　the　message。　In　mercy　to　the　world；　Jesus　delays　His　coming；
that　sinners　may　have　an　opportunity　to　hear　the　warning　and　find　in　Him　a
shelter　before　the　wrath　of　God　shall　be　poured　out。

Now　as　in　former　ages；　the　presentation　of　a　truth　that　reproves　the　sins
and　errors　of　the　times　will　excite　opposition。　〃Everyone　that　doeth　evil
hateth　the　light；　neither　cometh　to　the　light；　lest　his　deeds　should　be
reproved。〃　John　3：20。　As　men　see　that　they　cannot　maintain　their　position　by
the　Scriptures；　many　determine　to　maintain　it　at　all　hazards；　and　with　a
malicious　spirit　they　assail　the　character　and　motives　of　those　who　stand　in
defense　of　unpopular　truth。　It　is　the　same　policy　which　has　been　pursued　in
all　ages。　Elijah　was　declared　to　be　a　troubler　in　Israel；　Jeremiah　a
traitor；　Paul　a　polluter　of　the　temple。　From　that　day　to　this；　those　who
would　be　loyal　to　truth　have　been　denounced　as　seditious；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　459

heretical；　or　schismatic。　Multitudes　who　are　too　unbelieving　to　accept　the
sure　word　of　prophecy　will　receive　with　unquestioning　credulity　an
accusation　against　those　who　dare　to　reprove　fashionable　sins。　This　spirit
will　increase　more　and　more。　And　the　Bible　plainly　teaches　that　a　time　is
approaching　when　the　laws　of　the　state　will　so　conflict　with　the　law　of　God
that　whosoever　would　obey　all　the　divine　precepts　must　brave　reproach　and
punishment　as　an　evildoer。

In　view　of　this；　what　is　the　duty　of　the　messenger　of　truth？　Shall　he
conclude　that　the　truth　ought　not　to　be　presented；　since　often　its　only
effect　is　to　arouse　men　to　evade　or　resist　its　claims？　No；　he　has　no　more
reason　for　withholding　the　testimony　of　God's　word；　because　it　excites
opposition；　than　had　earlier　Reformers。　The　confession　of　faith　made　by
saints　and　martyrs　was　recorded　for　the　benefit　of　succeeding　generations。
Those　living　examples　of　holiness　and　steadfast　integrity　have　come　down　to
inspire　courage　in　those　who　are　now　called　to　stand　as　witnesses　for　God。
They　received　grace　and　truth；　not　for　themselves　alone；　but　that；　through
them；　the　knowledge　of　God　might　enlighten　the　earth。　Has　God　given　light　to
His　servants　in　this　generation？　Then　they　should　let　it　shine　forth　to　the
world。

Anciently　the　Lord　declared　to　one　who　spoke　in　His　name：　〃The　house　of
Israel　will　not　hearken　unto　thee；　for　they　will　not　hearken　unto　Me。〃
Nevertheless　He　said：　〃Thou　shalt　speak　My　words　unto　them；　whether　they
will　hear；　or　whether　they　will　forbear。〃　Ezekiel　3：7；　2：7。　To　the　servant
of　God　at　this　time　is　the　command　addressed：　〃Lift　up　thy　voice　like　a
trumpet；　and　show　My　people　their　transgression；　and　the　house　of　Jacob
their　sins。〃

So　far　as　his　opportunities　extend；　everyone　who　has　received　the　light　of
truth　is　under　the　same　solemn　and　fearful　responsibility　as　was　the　prophet
of　Israel；　to　whom　the　word　of　the　Lord　came；　saying：　〃Son　of　man；　I　have
set　thee　a　watchman　unto　the　house　of　Israel；　therefore　thou　shalt　hear

460

the　word　at　My　mouth；　and　warn　them　from　Me。　When　I　say　unto　the　wicked；　O
wicked　man；　thou　shalt　surely　die；　if　thou　dost　not　speak　to　warn　the　wicked
from　his　way；　that　wicked　man　shall　die　in　his　iniquity；　but　his　blood　will
I　require　at　thine　hand。　Nevertheless；　if　thou　warn　the　wicked　of　his　way　to
turn　from　it；　if　he　do　not　turn　from　his　way；　he　shall　die　in　his　iniquity；
but　thou　hast　delivered　thy　soul。〃　Ezekiel　33：7…9。

The　great　obstacle　both　to　the　acceptance　and　to　the　promulgation　of　truth
is　the　fact　that　it　involves　inconvenience　and　reproach。　This　is　the　only
argument　against　the　truth　which　its　advocates　have　never　been　able　to
refute。　But　this　does　not　deter　the　true　followers　of　Christ。　These　do　not
wait　for　truth　to　become　popular。　Being　convinced　of　their　duty；　they
deliberately　accept　the　cross；　with　the　apostle　Paul　counting　that　〃our
light　affliction；　which　is　but　for　a　moment；　worketh　for　us　a　far　more
exceeding　and　eternal　weight　of　glory；〃　with　one　of　old；　〃esteeming　the
reproach　of　Christ　greater　riches　than　the　treasures　in　Egypt。〃　2
Corinthians　4：17；　Hebrews　11：26。

Whatever　may　be　their　profession；　it　is　only　those　who　are　world　servers　at
heart　that　act　from　policy　rather　than　principle　in　religious　things。　We
should　choose　the　right　because　it　is　right；　and　leave　consequences　with
God。　To　men　of　principle；　faith；　and　daring；　the　world　is　indebted　for　its
great　reforms。　By　such　men　the　work　of　reform　for　this　time　must　be　carried
forward。

Thus　saith　the　Lord：　〃Hearken　unto　Me；　ye　that　know　righteousness；　the
people　in　whose　heart　is　My　law；　fear　ye　not　the　reproach　of　men；　neither　be
ye　afraid　of　their　revilings。　For　the　moth　shall　eat　them　up　like　a　garment；
and　the　worm　shall　eat　them　like　wool：　but　My　righteousness　shall　be
forever；　and　My　salvation　from　generation　to　generation。〃　Isaiah　51：7；　8。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　27

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Modern　Revivals


Wherever　the　word　of　God　has　been　faithfully　preached；　results　have　followed
that　attested　its　divine　origin。　The　Spirit　of　God　accompanied　the　message
of　His　servants；　and　the　word　was　with　power。　Sinners　felt　their　consciences
quickened。　The　〃light　which　lighteth　every　man　that　cometh　into　the　world〃
illumined　the　secret　chambers　of　their　souls；　and　the　hidden　things　of
darkness　were　made　manifest。　Deep　conviction　took　hold　upon　their　minds　and
hearts。　They　were　convinced　of　sin　and　of　righteousness　and　of　judgment　to
come。　They　had　a　sense　of　the　righteousness　of　Jehovah　and　felt　the　terror
of　appearing；　in　their　guilt　and　uncleanness；　before　the　Searcher　of　hearts。
In　anguish　they　cried　out：　〃Who　shall　deliver　me　from　the　body　of　this
death？〃　As　the　cross　of　Calvary；　with　its　infinite　sacrifice　for　the　sins　of
men；　was　revealed；　they　saw　that　nothing　but　the　merits　of　Christ　could
suffice　to　atone　for　their　transgressions；　this　alone　could　reconcile　man　to
God。　With　faith　and　humility　they　accepted　the　Lamb　of　God；　that　taketh　away
the　sin　of　the　world。　Through　the　blood　of　Jesus　they　had　〃remission　of　sins
that　are　past。〃

These　souls　brought　forth　fruit　meet　for　repentance。　They　believed　and　were
baptized；　and　rose　to　walk　in　newness　of　lifenew　creatures　in　Christ
Jesus；　not　to　fashion　themselves　according　to　the　former　lusts；　but　by　the
faith　of　the　Son　of

462

God　to　follow　in　His　steps；　to　reflect　His　character；　and　to　purify
themselves　even　as　He　is　pure。　The　things　they　once　hated　they　now　loved；
and　the　things　they　once　loved　they　hated。　The　proud　and　self…assertive
became　meek　and　lowly　of　heart。　The　vain　and　supercilious　became　serious　and
unobtrusive。　The　profane　became　reverent；　the　drunken　sober；　and　the
profligate　pure。　The　vain　fashions　of　the　world　were　laid　aside。　Christians
sought　not　the　〃outward　adorning　of　plaiting　the　hair；　and　of　wearing　of
gold；　or　of　putting　on　of　apparel；　but　。　。　。　the　hidden　man　of　the　heart；　in
that　which　is　not　corruptible；　even　the　ornament　of　a　meek　and　quiet　spirit；
which　is　in　the　sight　of　God　of　great　price。〃　1　Peter　3：3；　4。

Revivals　brought　deep　heart…searching　and　humility。　They　were　characterized
by　solemn；　earnest　appeals　to　the　sinner；　by　yearning　compassion　for　the
purchase　of　the　blood　of　Christ。　Men　and　women　prayed　and　wrestled　with　God
for　the　salvation　of　souls。　The　fruits　of　such　revivals　were　seen　in　souls
who　shrank　not　at　self…denial　and　sacrifice；　but　rejoiced　that　they　were
counted　worthy　to　suffer　reproach　and　trial　for　the　sake　of　Christ。　Men
beheld　a　transformation　in　the　lives　of　those　who　had　professed　the　name　of
Jesus。　The　community　was　benefited　by　their　influence。　They　gathered　with
Christ；　and　sowed　to　the　Spirit；　to　reap　life　everlasting。

It　could　be　said　of　them：　〃Ye　sorrowed　to　repentance。〃　〃For　godly　sorrow
worketh　repentance　to　salvation　not　to　be　repented　of：　but　the　sorrow　of　the
world　worketh　death。　For　behold　this　selfsame　thing；　that　ye　sorrowed　after
a　godly　sort；　what　carefulness　it　wrought　in　you；　yea；　what　clearing　of
yourselves；　yea；　what　indignation；　yea；　what　fear；　yea；　what　vehement
desire；　yea；　what　zeal；　yea；　what　revenge！　In　all　things　ye　have　approved
yourselves　to　be　clear　in　this　matter。〃
2　Corinthians　7：9…11。

This　is　the　result　of　the　work　of　the　Spirit　of　God。　There　is　no　evidence　of
genuine　repentance　unless　it　works　reformation。

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If　he　restore　the　pledge；　give　again　that　he　had　robbed；　confess　his　sins；
and　love　God　and　his　fellow　men；　the　sinner　may　be　sure　that　he　has　found
peace　with　God。　Such　were　the　effects　that　in　former　years　followed　seasons
of　religious　awakening。　Judged　by　their　fruits；　they　were　known　to　be
blessed　of　God　in　the　salvation　of　men　and　the　uplifting　of　humanity。

But　many　of　the　revivals　of　modern　times　have　presented　a　marked　contrast　to
those　manifestations　of　divine　grace　which　in　earlier　days　followed　the
labors　of　God's　servants。　It　is　true　that　a　widespread　interest　is　kindled；
many　profess　conversion；　and　there　are　large　accessions　to　the　churches；
nevertheless　the　results　are　not　such　as　to　warrant　the　belief　that　there
has　been　a　corresponding　increase　of　real　spiritual　life。　The　light　which
flames　up　for　a　time　soon　dies　out；　leaving　the　darkness　more　dense