A Departure from Right
Cooranbong, N. S. W.,
January 12, 1898
I am pleased that the Lord is in mercy again visiting the church.
My heart trembles as I think of the many times He has come in, and
His Holy Spirit has worked in the church; but after the immediate
effect was over, the merciful dealings of God were forgotten. Pride,
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spiritual indifference, was the record made in heaven. Those who were
visited by the rich mercy and grace of God dishonored their Redeemer
by their unbelief....
The Saviour has oft visited you in Battle Creek. Just as verily as
He walked in the streets of Jerusalem, longing to breathe the breath
of spiritual life into the hearts of those discouraged and ready to die,
has He come to you. The cities that were so greatly blessed by His
presence, His pardon, His gifts of healing, rejected Him; and just
as great, yea, greater, evidence of unrequited love has been given in
Battle Creek. Has Christ not loaded down His church with benefits
and blessings? Has He not sent His servants with messages of pardon
and righteousness, to be freely given to all who will receive them?
Jerusalem is a representation of what the church will be if it refuses
to walk in the light that God has given. Jerusalem was favored of God
as the depositary of sacred trusts. But her people perverted the truth,
and despised all entreaties and warnings. They would not respect
His counsels. The temple courts were polluted with merchandise
and robbery. Selfishness and love of mammon, envy and strife, were
cherished. Everyone sought for gain from his quarter. Christ turned
from them, saying: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” how can I give thee up?
“How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen
gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
Matthew
23:37
.
So Christ sorrows and weeps over our churches, over our insti-
tutions of learning, that have failed to meet the demand of God. He
comes to investigate in Battle Creek, which has been moving in the
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