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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
When the National Reformers began to urge measures to restrict reli-
gious liberty, our leading men should have been alive to the situation
and should have labored earnestly to counteract these efforts. It is
not in the order of God that light has been kept from our people—
the very present truth which they needed for this time. Not all our
ministers who are giving the third angel’s message really understand
what constitutes that message. The National Reform movement has
been regarded by some as of so little importance that they have not
thought it necessary to give much attention to it and have even felt
that in so doing they would be giving time to questions distinct from
the third angel’s message. May the Lord forgive our brethren for thus
interpreting the very message for this time.
The people need to be aroused in regard to the dangers of the
present time. The watchmen are asleep. We are years behind. Let the
chief watchmen feel the urgent necessity of taking heed to themselves,
lest they lose the opportunities given them to see the dangers.
If the leading men in our conferences do not now accept the mes-
sage sent them by God, and fall into line for action, the churches will
suffer great loss. When the watchman, seeing the sword coming, gives
the trumpet a certain sound, the people along the line will echo the
warning, and all will have opportunity to make ready for the conflict.
But too often the leader has stood hesitating, seeming to say: “Let
us not be in too great haste. There may be a mistake. We must be
careful not to raise a false alarm.” The very hesitancy and uncertainty
on his part is crying: “‘Peace and safety.’ Do not get excited. Be not
alarmed. There is a great deal more made of this religious amendment
question than is demanded. This agitation will all die down.” Thus he
virtually denies the message sent from God, and the warning which
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was designed to stir the churches fails to do its work. The trumpet of
the watchman gives no certain sound, and the people do not prepare
for the battle. Let the watchman beware lest, through his hesitancy and
delay, souls shall be left to perish, and their blood shall be required at
his hand.
We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted
in our land; and, now that the movement is right upon us, we ask: Will
our people do their duty in the matter? Can we not assist in lifting the
standard and in calling to the front those who have a regard for their
religious rights and privileges? The time is fast approaching when