The "Jews" (as their history assures us) at first were willing to be directed by the Almighty; but by and by, they thought themselves capable of legislating: and being puffed up in their minds, and having their foolish hearts darkened, they rejected the Lord; and then coming to Samuel,—Their plea—O how specious, how reasonable!—"Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king, to judge us like other nations." They entertained fears, undoubtedly, that after Samuel's death, which was approaching, they should be puzzled to know WHO WE ARE. This very idea led David to number the people, contrary to the command of Jehovah. And how often it has been done since that time, to gratify a foolish heart, and a vain ambition! Would it not have sounded curious enough to have heard Paul say to Timothy, "Timothy, we must ascertain, who WE are?" And would not the young disciple, if it was possible for him to fathom it, (for it is a vague term) replied by saying, "You told the Phillippians that we were the circumcision, who wanted our names in the Church book? no; that we were the circumcision, who want to legislate? no: We are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
Ye, says Christ, "are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." In order to answer this question fully, we must, in the first place, answer one that comes before it—one that is primary, viz: Do we love God with all our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves? Do we live up to all the commands of God? Are we conformed to His moral image? Is it the business of our lives to do all that God has commanded? Are we believing all the truth, and living up to all the light we have? If so, WE ARE Christ's; and being Christ's, WE ARE "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." It is not strange that the nominal Church should lose her identity. But when we hear Adventists inquire, Who we are, it comes with an ill grace. It sounds so silly. What! have we been engaged in this glorious cause fourteen or fifteen years, and never learnt, Who we are? What does all this mean? Why this effort on the part of some to organize, and bring in all the Advent bands, and unite them in a compact? Does this look like a confident, unwavering faith in the speedy coming of Christ? Did we not deny, years ago, this miserable work of forming ourselves into a sect? Hear the Advent Shield and Review, for Jan., 1845, vol. I. number 2, page 198. It speaks the language, I will venture to say, of the great majority of Adventists. Here it is:
"BUT ADVENTISTS HAVE NO WISH, NO INTENTION, NO NEED OF CONSTITUTING THEMSELVES INTO A DISTINCT BODY."
How is the foregoing to be reconciled with the efforts of some at the present time, unless there has been a mighty change? It may be remarked, that circumstances have driven us to adopt this course. But what are the circumstances? Is it because of impostors, or heresy? And do we expect to be free from these by associating ourselves together in this way? We did not feel the need of any thing of this kind in forty-two and three: Our hearts were united in the bonds of love; and if this bond has been severed, instead of fixing up something as a substitute—something that is contrary to the word of God—we should, by preaching the simple truth, remove the cause, and "nature" (Grace) "would work its own cure." But no; we must have our creeds, our organizations, our conferences, and our delegates to those conferences. And then, having ascertained, WHO WE ARE, we are prepared to act. But act how? Why, we can "shear off the troublesome thinkers."
But it will be remarked that this is not the design, and that it is wrong to judge our brethren in this way. But we may remark that it is so already—the mystery of iniquity doth already work. The very design of organizations, in the common acceptation of that term, and also of creeds, is to proscribe individual liberty; they are opposed to free action. It will not do for a man to act in accordance with the commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." No, he must preach to our party—to our people. To illustrate this principle, we quote the following from the life of Lorenzo Dow:
"A Preacher from America, whose name is Lorenzo Dow, travelled lately in Ireland, without any official recommendation from the American Conferences, or any of the rulers in that connection, and yet professing himself a friend of the Methodists. What judgment is it expedient for this conference to pass concerning the conduct of that man?" "Ans. WE ARE MOST SINCERE FRIENDS TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY; but we consider ourselves called upon to inform the public, that Mr. Dow has no connexion with us, nor did he receive the least permission or encouragement from the conference to travel through Ireland as one of our body, or as one of our friends; and we are determined, that if he returns to this country, none of our preaching-houses shall be opened to him on any account." Again, "letters of falsehood and lies, to set the government to sacrifice an individual on the altar of tyranny, because he goes so independent of the BISHOP's POWER; and others will" (do) "hatch from the same nest, &c. &c."... "Better one suffer than many. If he is innocent, we must use POWER, and make an example of him. What for? As a warning to others not to dispute our power, which, if right, we have by Divine delegation, to enforce, 'MORAL DISCIPLINE!'"
The question is not, what does Christ require?—but, what says the bishop? Now, we would say nothing, but for the fact, that the same principle is developing itself in our own ranks. This miserable creed system is now exerting upon Adventists an unsuspected, but tremendous power against the liberty of the gospel.
It is stealthily creeping upon us. May God unscale our eyes, before we get entangled in the meshes of the net of the Devil! "It is true, each denomination says, we inflict no penalty; we only decline to receive into our ranks one who does not agree with us. And this is so specious, it sounds so reasonable, that it might deceive the very elect. But it is the most consummate stroke of infernal craft, and doubly distilled Jesuitism. It is like Rome handing over the victims of the Inquisition to the civil arm, charging it to do them no harm, and then piously lauding her own lamb-like disposition. It is true, the denominations do not do the candidate any harm; they only leave him to his inevitable fate." But it may be remarked, that it is of no use to say any thing about it; and should the individual lift his warning voice against it, he is accused of having a hard spirit—of opposing somebody. But we wish it distinctly understood, that we are not at war with persons, but principles; not with men, but measures. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We are opposed to these religious combinations, because we believe they are opposed to God and His cause.
To give this idea more perfectly, we submit the following extract from the pen of Br. J. V. H. (Advent Herald, September 18, 1844,) headed, "Apostolic Example for our Course."
"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened and BELIEVED NOT, BUT SPAKE EVIL OF THAT WAY BEFORE THE MULTITUDE, he departed from them, and SEPARATED the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.—Acts xix. 8, 9. "It was not until divers were hardened, and spake evil of that way (the Lord's coming) before the multitude, that the brethren were moved to come out, and separate from the Churches. They could not endure this "evil speaking" of the "evil servant." "And the Churches that could pursue this course of oppression" and "evil speaking" "towards those who were looking for the blessed hope, were to them none other than the DAUGHTERS of mystic Babylon. They so proclaimed them, and came into the liberty of the gospel. And though we may not be all agreed as to what constitutes Babylon, we are agreed in the INSTANT and FINAL SEPARATION from all who oppose the doctrine of the coming and kingdom of God at hand. We believe it to be a case of LIFE and DEATH. It is DEATH to remain connected with those bodies that speak lightly of, or oppose, the coming of the Lord. It is LIFE to come out from ALL HUMAN TRADITION, and stand upon the word of God, and look daily for the appearance of the Lord. We therefore now say to ALL who are in ANY WAY entangled in the yoke of bondage," "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."—2 Cor. vi. 17, 18.