NO SCHISM IN THE BODY.-NO. 2

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

SOME of the “restless spirits,” after reading the instruction quoted in the preceding article, began to claim that the order that had been carried out among this people was now to be set aside, and every one would be at liberty to go about as he pleased. Not so; the work of the Spirit and true godliness would be in perfect accord with the order that had already been established by the Lord in leading his people. Indeed, the very next instruction received from this source, published in 1889, spoke on that very line:—HEVI 12.3

Let each who claims to follow Christ esteem himself less, and others more. Press together, press together! In union there is strength and victory; in discord and division there is weakness and defeat. These words have been spoken to me from heaven. As God’s ambassador, I speak them to you. Let every one seek to answer the prayer of Christ—“That they may all be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee.” O, what unity is this! and, says Christ, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”—“Testimony for the Church,” No. 33, page 16.HEVI 12.4

One point will have to be guarded, and that is individual independence. As soldiers in Christ’s army, thee should be concert of action in the various departments of the work.... Followers of Jesus Christ will not act independently one of another. Our strength must be in God, and it must be husbanded, to be put forth in noble, concentrated action. It must not be wasted in meaningless movements. In union there is strength... No strife or variance should exist among the workers. The work is one, superintended by one Leader. Occasional and spasmodic efforts have done harm. However energetic they may be, they are of little value; for the reaction will surely come. We must cultivate a steady perseverance, continually searching to know and do God’s will.-Id.,pages 62, 63.HEVI 12.5

One good place to search for the Lord’s will is in the instruction he has given us as to the best manner of working; and just here my eye rests upon words published in 1876:—HEVI 12.6

Many want to do things after their own style; they object to consultation, and are impatient under leadership. Well-matured plans are needed in the service of God. Common sense is an excellent thing in the worship of the Lord. The thinking powers should be consecrated to Christ, and ways and means should be devised to serve him best.-Testimonies for the Church 4:71.HEVI 12.7

As to whether order is to be laid aside, as the work advances, we get some strong expression in “Gospel Workers:”—HEVI 12.8

The laborers should counsel together. No one is to strike out on his independent judgment, and work according to his own mind, regardless of the counsel of those connected with him. If we think ourselves sufficient to manage the work of God, and depend for success on our own wisdom to plan and execute, we may expect defeats and losses; for they will surely come.-page 355.HEVI 12.9

In a Testimony published in the REVIEW of Oct. 24, 1893, we read:—HEVI 12.10

We should present to the world a united front, and make it manifest that we are one in Christ Jesus, one with the brethren, bound in covenant relation, under obligation to answer the prayer of Christ to be one in him, as he is one with the Father. Then we can counsel together because the love of Christ is in our hearts, we can pray one for another, and claim the promises of God. We could then feel secure in the love of our brethren, and know that upon turning our back, we would not be stabbed with some evil report or judgment.HEVI 12.11

The Lord changes not. His word is not Yea and Nay. What he has been teaching his people for the last forty-five years, relative to order, counsel, and harmonious action in our work, is not now to be laid aside. The articles in the REVIEW for Aug. 7 and 14, 1894, which some interpreted as discarding church order, if carefully examined, will be seen to be in perfect harmony with all previous teaching of the Testimonies on those lines. While each one is admonished to “seek the Lord” for himself, and “for divine guidance,” yet all are to move in harmonious order. It may be well to examine some of the statements made in those articles:—HEVI 12.12

To every man is given his work, and every man must do his own thinking and planning, in order that the work may be done in such a manner as to meet the approval of God. The worker must not be bound about too much with reproofs and commands; for God is his Master, and if he looks to him for wisdom, his prayer will be answered. God will give him his own experience, that will not have its foundation in any human being, but in the living God.HEVI 12.13

That this instruction was not designed to exclude order, counsel, and comparing of ideas among brethren, is apparent from another paragraph in the same article, which reads:—HEVI 12.14

While brethren should counsel together at special seasons, yet they should individually seek for higher counsel than that heard in the assembly.” The Review and Herald, February 28, 1899.HEVI 13.1