"HARVEST GATHERINGS AND SIFTINGS."
SOME of the friends urge a reproduction of thefollowing article, previously published in 1894,entitled, "HARVEST SIFTINGS":
PERILS AMONG FALSE BRETHREN--2 COR. 11:26
Our Christian experiences differ; no two have exactlythe same, because our temperaments and talents differas well as our surroundings. But we may rely upon itthat no real son of God is exempted from the neededtrials of patience, faith and love. No matter how strongthe character, or how seemingly impregnable to the ordinarybesetments, we may rely upon it that such haveas great trials and crosses as others--perhaps greater;perhaps such as would prostrate weaker ones, whom theLord will therefore in love and mercy not suffer to betempted above that they are able to bear.--I Cor. 10:13.
Even our blessed Lord Jesus, though perfect, had topass through an experience to test and prove his completesubmission to the Father's will. Looking at ourLord's testing, we cannot doubt that his strong characterwas measurably unmoved by the sarcastic, bitter wordsand threats of the Scribes and Pharisees, and that likewisehe speedily and firmly settled Satan's temptationsnegatively. None of these things, which would havebeen the greatest temptations to others, seemed to moveor even to greatly annoy him. He answered coolly andoften ironically the attacks of open enemies, and wascomparatively unmoved by them; but it was when thosewho dipped in the dish with him lifted up the heel againsthim (Psa. 41:9;Matt. 26:23) and left him, that his heartwas troubled;--wounded by professed friends. The onlydiscouraged expression recorded, relative to his work,was toward the close of his ministry when the test becamemore and more severe, and "many went back andwalked no more in his company," saying of his doctrines,"This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" His unreproachfulbut sorrowful words, then expressed to thetwelve specially staunch disciples, were full of pathos anddisappointed grief: "Will ye also go away?" Theprompt response of Peter--"Lord, to whom shall we go?Thou hast the words of lasting life,"--must certainlyhave come as a comforting balm to that noble, lovingheart, whose only impulse was to do good and to blessothers.
And yet as he approached the close of his ministry,the time came that he must still further suffer woundsfrom those he most loved. No wonder that, catching aclear view of how his sacrifice was to be completed, howall his bosom disciples would forsake and disown him,and how one of them would betray him with a kiss, hewas sorrowful, troubled in spirit, and testified, "Verily,verily, I say unto you, that one ofyou shall betray me."And though Peter courageously said, "Though I shoulddie with thee, yet will I not deny thee"--and so said theyall--Jesus saw that all would be scattered, forsaking himin his most trying hour, and that courageous Peter wouldbe so terribly sifted of Satan and prove so weak that hewould even swear that he had never known him. Trulythese trials from "brethren," some of whom were onlyweak, and one false at heart, must have been amongthe sorest of our Lord's experiences, during his periodof trial. Yet none of these things moved him or for amoment influenced him to choose another course. Hecheerfully followed the narrow path and left it for God,in his own time, to bring forth his righteousness as thelight of noonday. (Psa. 37:6.) He was obedient to Godand faithful to the truth, and it was thus that he suffered,not only at the hands of evil men, but also from the misunderstandingsof his closest friends, who did not clearlygrasp the situation, nor see how needful it was that heshould first be Redeemer before he could become Restorerand King.
The same lesson of perils among false brethren, andamong brethren who had not so fully as himself graspedthe truth, was also the Apostle Paul's experience.
We never hear from him a complaint about the waythe world rejected his message, spoke evil of him andmaltreated him as the leading exponent of the unpopulardoctrine of the cross of Christ, which was opposed bothby the stumbling, blinded Jews and by the worldly-wisebelievers in the philosophies of the Gentiles. Indeed,instead of being downcast or discouraged at his past experiences,or in the prospect of bonds and imprisonmentsawaiting him in the future, he boldly and cheerfullydeclared, "But none of these things move me, neithercount I my life dear unto myself."--Acts 20:19-24.
But, like the Lord Jesus, Paul had his severest trialsfrom "false brethren;" who, instead of being faithfulyoke-fellows and co-workers, as good soldiers of thecross, became puffed up, heady, and anxious to be leaders.These, being unwilling or unable to see the truth asfully and clearly as did Paul, because of their wrongcondition of heart, and being envious of his success andthe results of his zeal and labor, followed after him in thevarious cities where he had labored, and by misrepresentationof hischaracter as well as of his teachings, soughtto lower him in the esteem of the household of faith, andthus to open the way for various sophistical theorieswhich would reflect honor upon them as teachers of whatthey claimed wereadvanced truths, though actually subvertingthe real truth in the minds of many.
The only annoyance ever manifested by the ApostlePaul, in any of his letters, was upon this subject of hismisrepresentation by false brethren. Referring to thesefalse apostles by name, that they might be known andrecognized as such (SeeI Tim. 1:19,20;2 Tim. 4:10,14-17;2 Cor. 11:2-23), he clearly exposed their unholymotives of pride, ambition and envy, which scrupled notto make havoc of the Church and of the truth. Especiallydid he point out that, in their attempt to be leaders,they had manufactured a differentgospel, built upon adifferent foundation than the only true foundation--thedeath of Christ as man's ransom-price.
Paul was zealous for the truth's sake, lest these falseapostles should use smooth words and misrepresentationsof his character and of the truth as a lever to turn menaside from the true gospel.
He warns them against those teachers, not to keephimself uppermost in their hearts, but to put them ontheir guard, lest receiving the new teachers, they shouldbe injured by thefalse teachings they presented, and lestin rejecting him and losing confidence in him as an honestand true man and teacher they should discard his teachings,which were the truth. Hence his reference to himselfwas not in self-defence and self-laudation, but in defenceofthe truth, and an endeavor to have them see thathis character and career as a true teacher comportedwell with the true message he bore to them.
And he fearlessly pointed out that men mightclaimto present the same Jesus, the same spirit and the same [R3820 : page 229]gospel, and yet be false teachers and deceitful workers,transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And,he says, marvel not at such a thing as that men shouldbe great workers in the name of Christ from ambitiousmotives: "No marvel, for Satan himself fashionethhimself into an angel of light. It is no great thing, therefore,if his ministers also transform themselves as ministersof righteousness."
Paul's letter to the Galatians was written evidently tocounteract the misrepresentations of false brethren. (Gal. 1:6;3:1.) To re-establish confidence in the gospel messagehe had delivered, it was needful that he should rehearseto them something of his history. In doing so itwas necessary to refer again to thefalse brethren (Gal. 2:4),who claimed to be of the same body and who yet,in opposition to the truth, brought again upon God'schildren the bondage of errors already escaped from.
HARVEST GATHERING AND SIFTINGS
[R3821 : page 229]A SKETCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESENT TRUTH
Many are the inquiries relative to the truths presentedin MILLENNIAL DAWN and ZION'S WATCH TOWER, as towhence they came and how they developed to their presentsymmetrical and beautiful proportions--Were theythe results of visions? Did God in any supernatural waygrant the solution of these hitherto mysteries of his plan?Are the writers more than ordinary beings? Do theyclaim any supernatural wisdom or power? or how comesthis revelation of God's truth?
No, dear friends, I claim nothing of superiority, norsupernatural power, dignity or authority; nor do I aspireto exalt myself in the estimation of my brethrenof the household of faith, except in the sense that theMaster urged it, saying, "Let him who would be greatamong you be your servant." (Matt. 20:27.) And myposition among men of the world and of the nominalchurch is certainly far from exalted, being "everywherespoken against." I am fully contented, however, towait for exaltation until the Lord's due time. (I Pet. 5:6.)In the Apostle's words I therefore answer, "Why lookye upon us, as though by our own power we had donethese things? We also are men of like passions withyourselves"--of like infirmities and frailties, earnestlystriving, by overcoming many besetments, discouragements,etc., to press along the line toward the mark ofthe prize of our high calling, and claiming only, as afaithful student of the Word of God, to be an indexfinger, as I have previously expressed it, to help you totrace for yourselves, on the sacred page, the wonderfulplan of God--no less wonderful to me, I assure you, thanto you, dearly beloved sharers of my faith and joy.
No, the truths I present, as God's mouthpiece, werenot revealed in visions or dreams, nor by God's audiblevoice, nor all at once, but gradually, especially since 1870,and particularly since 1880. Neither is this clear unfoldingof truth due to any human ingenuity oracuteness of perception, but to the simple fact that God'sdue time has come; and if I did not speak, and no otheragent could be found, the very stones would cry out.
The following history is given not merely because Ihave been urged to give a review of God's leadings inthe path of light, but specially because I believe it to beneedful that the truth be modestly told, that misapprehensionsand prejudicial misstatements may be disarmed,and that our readers may see how hitherto theLord has helped and guided. In so far as the names andviews of others, who have parted our company, may beassociated with this history, I shall endeavor to bring forwardonly such points as are necessary to an understandingof our position and of the Lord's leadings. Nor canI name all the little points of divine favor in which faithwas tested, prayers were answered, etc., rememberingthat our Master and the early Church left no such exampleof boasting faith, but rather admonished otherwise,saying, "Hast thou faith? have it to thyself." Some ofthe most precious experiences of faith and prayer arethose which are too sacred for public display.
LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS
I will not go back to tell how the light began tobreak through the clouds of prejudice and superstitionwhich enveloped the world under Papacy's rule in thedark ages. The Reformation movement, or rather movements,from then until now, have each done their sharein bringing light out of darkness. Let me here confinemyself to the consideration of the harvest truths setforth in MILLENNIAL DAWN and ZION'S WATCH TOWER.
Let me begin the narrative at the year 1868, when theEditor, having been a consecrated child of God for someyears, and a member of the Congregational Church andof the Y.M.C.A., began to be shaken in faith regardingmany long-accepted doctrines. Brought up a Presbyterian,and indoctrinated from the Catechism, and beingnaturally of an inquiring mind, I fell a ready prey to thelogic of infidelity as soon as I began to think for myself.But that which at first threatened to be the utter shipwreckof faith in God and the Bible, was, under God'sprovidence, overruled for good, and merely wrecked myconfidence in human creeds and systems of misinterpretationof the Bible.
Gradually I was led to see that though each of thecreeds contained some elements of truth, they were,on the whole, misleading and contradictory of God'sWord. Among other theories, I stumbled upon Adventism.Seemingly by accident, one evening I dropped intoa dusty, dingy hall, where I had heard religious serviceswere held, to see if the handful who met there had anythingmore sensible to offer than the creeds of the greatchurches. There, for the first time, I heard something ofthe views of Second Adventists, the preacher being Mr.Jonas Wendell, long since deceased. Thus, I confess indebtednessto Adventists as well as to other denominations.Though his Scripture exposition was not entirelyclear, and though it was very far from what we now rejoicein, it was sufficient, under God, to re-establish mywavering faith in the divine inspiration of the Bible, andto show that the records of the apostles and prophets areindissolubly linked. What I heard sent me to my Bibleto study with more zeal and care than ever before, and Ishall ever thank the Lord for that leading; for thoughAdventism helped me to no single truth, it did help megreatly in the unlearning of errors, and thus prepared mefor the Truth.
I soon began to see that we were living somewherenear the close of the Gospel age, and near the time whenthe Lord had declared that the wise, watching ones of hischildren should come to a clear knowledge of his plan.At this time, myself and a few other truth-seekers inPittsburgh and Allegheny formed a class for Bible study,and from 1870 to 1875 was a time of constant growth in [R3821 : page 230]grace and knowledge and love of God and his Word.We came to see something of the love of God, how ithad made provision for all mankind, how all must beawakened from the tomb in order that God's loving planmight be testified to them, and how all who exercisefaith in Christ's redemptive work and render obediencein harmony with the knowledge of God's will theywillthen receive, shall then (through Christ's merit) bebrought back into full harmony with God, and be grantedeverlasting life. This we saw to be the Restitution workforetold inActs 3:21. But though seeing that theChurch was called to joint-heirship with the Lord in theMillennial Kingdom, up to that time we had failed to seeclearly the great distinction between the reward of theChurch now on trial and the reward of the faithful of theworld after its trial, at the close of the Millennial age--that the reward of the former is to be the glory of thespiritual, divine nature, while that of the latter is to bethe glory of restitution--restoration to the perfection ofhuman nature once enjoyed in Eden by their progenitorand head, Adam.
However, we were then merely getting the generaloutline of God's plan, and unlearning many long-cherishederrors, the time for a clear discernment of theminutiae having not yet fully come. And here I shouldand do gratefully mention assistance rendered by BrothersGeo. Stetson and Geo. Storrs, the latter the editorofThe Bible Examiner, both now deceased. The studyof the Word of God with these dear brethren led, step bystep, into greener pastures and brighter hopes for theworld, though it was not until 1872, when I gained aclear view of our Lord's work as ourransom price, thatI found the strength and foundation of all hope of restitutionto lie in that doctrine. Up to that time, when Iread the testimony that all in their graves should comeforth, etc., I yet doubted the full provision--whether itshould be understood to include idiots or infants who haddied without reaching any degree of understanding, beingsto whom the present life and its experiences wouldseem to be of little or no advantage. But when, in 1872,I came to examine the subject of restitution from thestandpoint of the ransom price given by our Lord Jesusfor Adam, and consequently for all lost in Adam, it settledthe matter of restitution completely, and gave methe fullest assurance that ALLmust come forth from theirgraves and be brought to a clear knowledge of the truthand to a full opportunity to gain everlasting life inChrist.
Thus passed the years 1869-1872. The years following,to 1876, were years of continued growth in graceand knowledge on the part of the handful of Bible studentswith whom I met in Allegheny. We progressedfrom our first crude and indefinite ideas of restitution toclearer understanding of the details; but God's due timefor the clear light had not yet come.
During this time, too, we came to recognize thedifference between our Lord as "the man who gave himself,"and as the Lord who would come again, a spiritbeing. We saw that spirit-beings can be present, andyet invisible to men, just as we still hold and have setforth in MILLENNIAL DAWN, Vol. II., Chap. 5. And wefelt greatly grieved at the error of Second Adventists,who were expecting Christ in the flesh, and teaching thatthe world and all in it except Second Adventists wouldbe burned up in 1873 or 1874, whose time-settings anddisappointments and crude ideas generally as to the objectand manner of his coming brought more or less reproachupon us and upon all who longed for and proclaimed hiscoming Kingdom. [R3822 : page 230]
These wrong views so generally held of both theobject and manner of the Lord's return led me to write apamphlet--"The Object and Manner of The Lord's Return,"of which some 50,000 copies were published.
It was about January, 1876, that my attention wasspecially drawn to the subject of prophetic time, as itrelates to these doctrines and hopes. It came about inthis way: I received a paper calledThe Herald of theMorning, sent by its editor, Mr. N. H. Barbour. WhenI opened it I at once identified it with Adventism fromthe picture on its cover, and examined it with some curiosityto see what time they would next set for the burningof the world. But judge of my surprise and gratification,when I learned from its contents that the Editorwas beginning to get his eyes open on the subjects thatfor some years had so greatly rejoiced our hearts here inAllegheny--that the object of our Lord's return is not todestroy, but to bless all the families of the earth, and thathis coming would be thief-like, and not in flesh, but as aspirit-being, invisible to men; and that the gathering ofhis Church and the separation of the "wheat" from the"tares" would progress in the end of this age withoutthe world's being aware of it.
I rejoiced to find others coming to the same advancedposition, but was astonished to find the statementvery cautiously set forth, that the editor believed theprophecies to indicate that the Lord was alreadypresentin the world (unseen and invisible), and that the harvestwork of gathering the wheat was already due,--and thatthis view was warranted by the time-prophecies whichbut a few months before he supposed had failed.
Here was a new thought: Could it be that thetimeprophecies which I had so long despised, because of theirmisuse by Adventists, were really meant to indicate whenthe Lord would beinvisibly present to set up his Kingdom--a thing which I clearly saw could be known in noother way? It seemed, to say the least, a reasonable,a very reasonable thing, to expect that the Lord wouldinform his people on the subject--especially as he hadpromised that the faithful should not be left in darknesswith the world, and that though the day of the Lordwould come upon all others as a thief in the night(stealthily, unawares), it should not be so to the watching,earnest saints.--I Thes. 5:4.
I recalled certain arguments used by my friend JonasWendell and other Adventists to prove that 1873 wouldwitness the burning of the world, etc.--the chronologyof the world showing that the six thousand years fromAdam ended with the beginning of 1873--and otherarguments drawn from the Scriptures and supposed tocoincide. Could it be that thesetime arguments, whichI had passed by as unworthy of attention, really containedan important truth which they had misapplied?
Anxious to learn, from any quarter, whatever Godhad to teach, I at once wrote to Mr. Barbour, informinghim of my harmony on other points and desiring toknow particularly why, and upon what Scriptural evidences,he held that Christ'spresence and the harvestingof the Gospel age dated from the Autumn of 1874. Theanswer showed that my surmise had been correct, viz.:that thetime arguments, chronology, etc., were the sameas used by Second Adventists in 1873, and explainedhow Mr. Barbour and Mr. J. H. Paton, of Michigan, a [R3822 : page 231]co-worker with him, had been regular Second Adventistsup to that time; and that when the date 1874 had passedwithout the world being burned, and without their seeingChrist in the flesh, they were for a time dumb-founded.They had examined the time-prophecies that had seeminglypassed unfulfilled, and had been unable to find anyflaw, and had begun to wonder whether thetime wasright and theirexpectations wrong,--whether the viewsof restitution and blessing to the world, which myself andothers were teaching, might not be the things to look for.It seems that not long after their 1874 disappointment, areader of theHerald of the Morning, who had a copy oftheDiaglott, noticed something in it which he thoughtpeculiar,--that inMatt. 24:27,37,39, the word which inour common version is renderedcoming is translatedpresence. This was the clue; and, following it, they hadbeen led through prophetictime toward proper viewsregarding the object and manner of the Lord's return.I, on the contrary, was led first to proper views of theobject and manner of our Lord's return and then to theexamination of thetime for these things, indicated inGod's Word. Thus God leads his children often fromdifferent starting points of truth; but where the heart isearnest and trustful, the result must be to draw all suchtogether.
But there were no books or other publications settingforth the time-prophecies as then understood, so I paidMr. Barbour's expenses to come to see me at Philadelphia(where I had business engagements during the summerof 1876), to show me fully and Scripturally, if hecould, that the prophecies indicated 1874 as the date atwhich the Lord'spresence and "the harvest" began.He came, and the evidences satisfied me. Being a personof positive convictions and fully consecrated to the Lord,I at once saw that the special times in which we live havean important bearing upon our duty and work as Christ'sdisciples; that, being in the time of harvest, the harvest-workshould be done; and thatPresent Truth was thesickle by which the Lord would have us do a gatheringand reaping work everywhere among his children.
I inquired of Mr. Barbour as to what was being doneby him and by theHerald. He replied that nothingwas being done; that the readers of theHerald, beingdisappointed Adventists, had nearly all lost interest andstopped their subscriptions;--and that thus, with moneyexhausted, theHerald might be said to be practicallysuspended. I told him that instead of feeling discouragedand giving up the work since his newly found lighton restitution (for when we first met, he had much tolearn from me on the fulness ofrestitution based uponthe sufficiency of the ransom given for all, as I had muchto learn from him concerningtime), he should rather feelthat now he had some good tidings to preach, such as henever had before, and that his zeal should be correspondinglyincreased. At the same time, the knowledgeof the fact that we were already in the harvest periodgave to me an impetus to spread the Truth such as Inever had before. I therefore at once resolved upon avigorous campaign for the Truth.
I determined to curtail my business cares and givemy time as well as means to the great harvest work.Accordingly, I sent Mr. Barbour back to his home, withmoney and instructions to prepare in concise book-formthe good tidings so far as then understood, including thetime features, while I closed out my Philadelphia businesspreparatory to engaging in the work, as I afterward did,traveling and preaching.
The little book of 196 pages thus prepared was entitledThe Three Worlds; and as I was enabled to givesome time and thought to its preparation it was issuedby us both jointly, both names appearing on its titlepage--though it was mainly written by Mr. Barbour.While it was not the first book to teach a measure ofrestitution, nor the first to treat upon time-prophecy,it was, we believe, the first tocombine the idea of restitutionwith time-prophecy. From the sale of this bookand from my purse, our traveling expenses, etc., weremet. After a time I conceived the idea of adding anotherharvest laborer and sent for Mr. Paton, whopromptly responded and whose traveling expenses weremet in the same manner.
But noticing how quickly people seemed to forgetwhat they had heard, it soon became evident that whilethe meetings were useful in awakening interest, a monthlyjournal was needed to hold that interest and develop it.It therefore seemed to be the Lord's will that one of ournumber should settle somewhere and begin again theregular issuing of theHerald of the Morning. I suggestedthat Mr. Barbour do this, as he had experience asa type-setter and could therefore do it most economically,while Mr. Paton and I would continue to travel andcontribute to its columns as we should find opportunity.To the objection that the type was not sold, and thatthe few subscriptions which would come in would not,for a long time, make the journal self-sustaining, I repliedthat I would supply the money for purchasing type, etc.,and leave a few hundred dollars in bank subject to Mr.Barbour's check, and that he should manage it as economicallyas possible, while Mr. Paton and I continued totravel. This, which seemed to be the Lord's will in thematter, was done.
It was after this, while on a tour of the New EnglandStates, that I met Mr. A. P. Adams, then a youngMethodist minister, who became deeply interested andaccepted the message heartily during the week that Ipreached to his congregation. Subsequently, I introducedhim to little gatherings of interested ones in neighboringtowns, and assisted otherwise, as I could, rejoicingin another one who, with study, would soon be a co-laborerin the harvest field. About this time, too, I wasmuch encouraged by the accession of Mr. A. D. Jones,then a clerk in my employ in Pittsburgh--a young manof activity and promise, who soon developed into anactive and appreciated co-laborer in the harvest work,and is remembered by some of our readers. Mr. Jonesran well for a time, but ambition or something eventuallyworked utter shipwreck of his faith, and left us a painfulillustration of the wisdom of the Apostle's words: "Mybrethren, be not many of you teachers, knowing that weshall have the severer judgment."--James 3:1--Diaglott.
SIFTING AS WHEAT
"Satan hath desired to have you, that he might siftyou as wheat."--Luke 22:31.
Thus far all had run smoothly and onward: we hadbeen greatly blessed with Truth, but not specially testedin our love and fidelity to it. But with the Spring of1878, the parallel in time to the Lord's crucifixion andhis utterance of the above-quoted words, the sifting beganwhich has continued ever since, and which must, [R3823 : page 232]sooner or later, test every one who receives the light ofPresent Truth. "Marvel not, therefore, concerning thefiery trial whichshall try you, as though some strangething happened unto you;" for this "fire shall try everyman's work, of what sort it is"--whether he has built hisfaith flimsily of wood, hay and stubble, instead of withthe valuable stones of God's revealed truth, or whetherhe has built it upon the shifting sands of human theory--evolution, etc.,--or upon the solid rock, theransom, theonly sure foundation, which God has provided. Theywho build upon thatrock shall be safe personally, eventhough they may have built up an illogical faith whichthe "fire" and shaking of this day of trial shall overthrowand utterly consume; but they who build uponany other foundation, whether they use good or bad materials,are sure of complete wreck.--Luke 6:47-49;I Cor. 3:11-15.
The object of this trial and sifting evidently is to selectall whose heart-desires are unselfish, who are fullyand unreservedly consecrated to the Lord, who are soanxious to have the Lord's will done, and whose confidencein his wisdom, his way and his Word is so great,that they refuse to be led away from the Lord's Word,either by the sophistries of others, or by plans and ideasof their own. These, in the sifting time, will be strengthenedand shall increase their joy in the Lord and theirknowledge of his plans, even while their faith is beingtested by the falling into error of thousands on everyhand.--Psa. 91:7.
The sifting began thus: Regarding Paul's statement(I Cor. 15:51,52), "We shall not all sleep, but weshall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling ofan eye," etc., we still held the idea which Adventists, andindeed all Christians hold, that at some time the livingsaints would be suddenly and miraculously caught awaybodily, thenceforth to be forever with the Lord. And,now, our acquaintance with time-prophecy led us to expectthis translation of the saints at the point of time inthis age parallel to the Lord's resurrection; for manyof the parallelisms between the Jewish and Christian dispensationswere already seen by us, and formed one ofthe features of the little book above referred to--TheThree Worlds.
We did not then see, as we now do,* that that date(1878) marked the time for the beginning of the establishmentof the Kingdom of God, by the glorification ofall who already slept in Christ, and that the "change"which Paul mentions (I Cor. 15:51) is to occur in themoment of dying, to all the class described, from thatdate onward through the harvest period, until all the livingmembers ("the feet") of the body of Christ shallhave been changed to glorious spirit beings. But whenat that date nothing occurred which we couldsee, a re-examinationof the matter showed me that our mistakelay in expecting to see all the living saints changed atonce, and without dying--an erroneous view shared inby the whole nominal church, and one which we had notyet observed or discarded. Our present clear view wasthe result of the examination thus started. I soon sawthat in the Apostle's words, "We shall not allsleep," thewordsleep was not synonymous withdie, though generallyso understood; that, on the contrary, the expressionsleep, here used, representsunconsciousness; and that theApostle wished us to understand thatfrom a certain timein the Lord'spresence, his saints, though they would alldie like other men (Psa. 82:6,7), would not remain forany time unconscious, but in themoment of dying wouldbechanged and would receive the spirit body promised.Throughout this Gospel age, dying has been followed byunconsciousness, "sleep." This continued true of allsaints who "fell asleep in Jesus" up to the time when hetook the office of King (Rev. 11:17), which we haveshown + was in 1878.
So this re-examination showed further light upon thepathway and became a good cause for encouragement, asevidencing the Lord's continued leading.
But while I was thus helped to clearer views andbrighter hopes, and while I diligently endeavored to helpothers, the Spring of 1878 proved far from a blessing toMr. Barbour and to many under his influence. Rejectingthe plain, simple solution presented above, Mr. B. seemedto feel that he must of necessity get up something newto divert attention from the failure of the living saints tobe caught away en masse.
But, alas! how dangerous it is for any man to feel toomuch responsibility and to attempt to force new light.To our painful surprise, Mr. Barbour soon after wrote anarticle for theHerald denying the doctrine of the atonement--denying that the death of Christ was the ransom-priceof Adam and his race, saying that Christ's deathwas no more a settlement of the penalty of man's sinsthan would the sticking of a pin through the body of afly and causing it suffering and death be consideredby an earthly parent as a just settlement for misdemeanorin his child.
I was astonished, supposing that Mr. B. had a clearerunderstanding of the work of Christ as our sin-offering,our willing Redeemer, who gladly, co-operating in thedivine plan, gave himself as theransom orcorrespondingprice to meet the penalty upon Adam, that Adam andall his posterity might in due time go free from sin anddeath. A totally different thing indeed was the willing,intelligent, loving offering of our Redeemer, accordingto the plan devised and revealed by infinite wisdom,from the miserable caricature of it offered in the aboveillustration. I had either given Mr. B. credit for clearerviews than he ever had, or else he was deliberatelytaking off and casting away the "wedding garment"of Christ's righteousness. The latter was the only conclusionleft; for he afterward stated that he had previouslyrecognized Christ's death as man'sransom-price.
Immediately I wrote an article for theHerald in contradictionof the error, showing the necessity "that onedie for all"--"the just for the unjust;" that Christ fulfilledall this as it had been written; and thatconsequentlyGod could be just and forgive and release the sinner from [R3823 : page 233]the very penalty he had justly imposed. (Rom. 3:26.)I also wrote to Mr. Paton, calling his attention to thefundamental character of the doctrine assailed, andpointing out how the time and circumstances all correspondedwith the parable of the one who took off thewedding garment when just about to partake of the weddingfeast. (Matt. 22:11-14.) He replied that he had notseen theransom feature in so strong a light before; thatMr. Barbour had a strong, dogmatic way of puttingthings which had for the time overbalanced him. Iurged that, seeing now the importance of the doctrine,he also write an article for theHerald, which, in no uncertaintone, would give his witness also for the preciousblood of Christ. This he did. These articles appearedin the issues of theHerald from July to December, 1878.
It now became clear to me that the Lord would nolonger have me assist financially, or to be in any wayidentified with, anything which cast any influence in oppositionto the fundamental principle of our holy Christianreligion; and I therefore, after a most careful thoughunavailing effort to reclaim the erring, withdrew entirelyfrom theHerald of the Morning and from further fellowshipwith Mr. B. But a mere withdrawal I felt was notsufficient to show my continued loyalty to our Lord andRedeemer, whose cause had thus been violently assailedby one in position to lead the sheep astray--and in thatposition, too, very largely by my individual assistanceand encouragement when I believed him to be, in all sincerity,true to the Lord. I therefore understood it to bethe Lord's will that I should start another journal inwhich the standard of the cross should be lifted high, thedoctrine of the ransom defended, and the good tidings ofgreat joy proclaimed as extensively as possible.
Acting upon this leading of the Lord, I gave uptraveling, and in July, 1879, the first number of ZION'SWATCH TOWERand Herald of Christ's Presence madeits appearance. From the first, it has been a special advocateof the"ransom for all," and by the grace ofGod we hope this it will ever be.
For a time we had a most painful experience: thereaders of the TOWER and of theHerald were the same;and from the time the former started and the supply offunds from this quarter for theHerald ceased, Mr. B. notonly drew from the bank the money deposited by me andtreated all he had in his possession as his own, but pouredupon the Editor of the TOWER the vilest of personalabuse in order to prevent the TOWER and the doctrine of [R3824 : page 233]the ransom from having due influence upon the readers.This of course caused a division, as such things alwaysdo. The personal abuse, being regarded by some astrue, had its intended effect of biasing the judgments ofmany on the subject of the ransom; and many turnedfrom us.
But the Lord continued his favor, which I esteem ofmore value than the favor of the whole world. It was atthis time that Mr. Adams espoused the views of Mr.Barbour and likewise forsook the doctrine of the ransom.And, true to our interpretation of the parable of the weddinggarment as given at the time, Mr. Barbour and Mr.Adams, having cast off the wedding garment of Christ'srighteousness, went out of the light into the outer darknessof the world on the subjects once so clearly seen--namely, the time and manner of the Lord's presence;and since then they have been expecting Christ in theflesh every Spring or Fall and twisting the propheciesaccordingly.
During part of this ordeal, or we might truly call itbattle, for the cross of Christ, we had the earnest co-operationof Mr. Paton, who, up to the Summer of 1881,was an appreciated co-laborer and defender of the doctrineof coming blessings through Christ, based upon theransom for all given at Calvary. The book,The ThreeWorlds, having been for some time out of print, it seemedas if either another edition of that, or else a new bookcovering the same features, should be gotten out. Mr.Paton agreed to get it ready for the press, and Mr. Jonesoffered to pay all the expenses incident to its printing andbinding and to give Mr. Paton as many copies of thebook as he could sell, as remuneration for his time spent inpreparing the matter, provided I would agree to advertiseit liberally and gratuitously in the TOWER--well knowingthat there would be a demand for it if I should recommendit, and that his outlay would be sure to return withprofit. (For those books did not sell at suchlow prices aswe charge for MILLENNIAL DAWN.) I not only agreed tothis, but contributed to Mr. Paton's personal expenses inconnection with the publishing, as well as paid part ofthe printer's bill at his solicitation.
In the end, I alone was at any financial loss in connectionwith the book, calledDay Dawn, the writer andpublisher both being gainers financially, while I did allthe introducing by repeated advertisements. We needto give these particulars, because of certain one-sided andonly partial statements of facts and misrepresentationswhich have recently been published and circulated intract form by Mr. Paton, who is also now an advocate ofthat "other gospel" of which the cross of Christ is notthe center, and which denies that he"bought us with hisown precious blood." Mr. P. has since published anotherbook, which, though called by the same name asthe one we introduced, being on another and a falsefoundation, I cannot and do not recommend, but which Iesteem misleading sophistry, tending to undermine thewhole structure of the Christian system, yet retaining asufficiency of the truths which we once held in common tomake it palatable and dangerous to all not rooted andgrounded upon the ransom rock.
The false foundation which it presents is the oldheathen doctrine of evolution revamped, which not onlydenies the fall of man, but as a consequence, allnecessityfor a redeemer. It claims, on the contrary, that not byredemption and restitution to a lost estate, but by progressiveevolution or development, man has risen and isstill to rise from the lower condition in which he was createduntil, by his own good works, he ultimately reachesthe divine nature. It claims that our blessed Lord washimself a degraded and imperfect man, whose work onearth was to crucify a carnal nature, which, it claims, hepossessed, and tothus show all menhow to crucify theircarnal or sinful propensities.
And here we remark that the darkness and degradationwhich came upon the whole world in its fallen, cast-offcondition, and which was only intensified by Papacy'spriestcraft during the dark ages, when contrasted withthe light of intelligence, which God is now letting in uponthe world, have gradually led men to esteem present intelligenceas merely a part of a process of evolution. Thisview, as we have shown, * though quite incorrect, is neverthelessthe occasion of the predicted great falling awayfrom the faith of the Bible during the harvest period.(Psa. 91:7.) And few Christian people seem to be well [R3824 : page 234]enough grounded in the Truth to be able to withstand thistrial of the evil day, in which many will fall while onlythe few will stand. For this cause we use great plainnessof speech.
In the year 1881, Mr. Barbour, still publishing theHerald, and still endeavoring to overthrow the doctrineof the Ransom, finding that on a preaching tour I hadused a diagram of the Tabernacle to illustrate howChrist's sacrifice was typified in the sacrifices of typicalIsrael, wrote an article on the Atonement, in which heundertook to show that the sacrifices of the Day ofAtonement typified almost anything else than what theydo typify. I could readily see through the fallacy of hispresentation, which made of the bullock a type of onething in one verse and another thing in each other verse inwhich it was mentioned, and so too with the goat. But Iwell knew that people in general are not close reasoners,and that, with the cares of life upon them, they are tooapt to accept a seeming interpretation, without a criticalexamination of the words of Scripture and their context.
I thought the matter all over. I examined the chapter(Lev. 16), but while seeing the inconsistency anderror of Mr. Barbour's interpretation, I could only confessthat I did not understand it and could not give aconnected interpretation which would fit all the details soplainly stated, and all of which must have a particularmeaning. What could I do? Those reading theHeraldas well as the TOWER would probably be misled, ifnot helped out of the difficulty; and to merely say thattheHerald's interpretation was inconsistent with itself,and therefore a misinterpretation, would be misunderstood.Many would surely think that I opposed thatview from a spirit of rivalry; for there are always peoplewith whom everything resolves itself into personality,rivalry and party spirit, and such cannot understandothers who take a higher and nobler view, and whothink always and only of the Truth, regardless ofpersons.
I went to the Lord with this as with every trial, toldhim just how it seemed to me, how anxious I felt for hisdear "sheep," who, having their appetites sharpened bysome truth, were by their very hunger exposed to Satan'sdeceptions. I told him that I realized that he was theShepherd, and not I, but that I knew also that he wouldbe pleased at my interest in the sheep and my desire to behis mouthpiece to declare the truth, the way and the lifeto them; that I felt deeply impressed that if the time hadcome for the permission of a false view to deceive theunworthy, it must also be his due time to have thetruth on the same subject made clear, that the worthyones might be enabled to stand, and not fall from thetruth. Believing that the due time had come for the correctunderstanding of the meaning of the Jewish sacrifices,which in a general way all Christians concede weretypical of "better sacrifices," and that the Lord wouldgrant the insight as soon as I got into the attitude ofheart best fitted to receive the light, I prayed with confidencethat if the Lord's due time had come, and if hewere willing to use me as his instrument to declare themessage to his dear family, that I might be enabled torid my heart and mind of any prejudice that might standin the way and be led of his spirit into the properunderstanding.
Believing that the prayer would be answered affirmatively,I went into my study next morning prepared tostudy and write. The forenoon I spent in scrutinizingthe text and every other Scripture likely to shed lightupon it, especially the epistle to the Hebrews, and inlooking to the Lord for wisdom and guidance; but nosolution of the difficult passage came. The afternoonand evening were similarly spent, and all of the next day.Everything else was neglected, and I wondered why theLord kept me so long; but on the third day near noonthe whole matter came to me as clear as the noon-daysun--so clear and convincing and so harmonious withthe whole tenor of Scripture, that I could not questionits correctness; and no one has ever yet been able tofind a flaw in it. (This has been published in severaleditions in pamphlet form under the title, TABERNACLESHADOWS OF THE BETTER SACRIFICES, and can stillbe had by addressing theWatch Tower office--10c.)
Then I knew why the Lord had led me to it so slowlyand cautiously. I needed a special preparation of heartfor the full appreciation of all it contained, and I was allthe more assured that it was not of my own wisdom; forif of my own why would it not have come at once? Ifound that the understanding of that subject was boundto have a wide influence upon all our hopes and views ofall truths--not that it overturned old truths or contradictedthem, but, on the contrary, that it set them all inorder and harmony and straightened out little knots and [R3825 : page 234]twists. For instance, the doctrine of "justification byfaith" had always been more or less confused in my mind,as it is in every mind, with the doctrine of "sanctification"which calls for self-sacrifice andworks. This wasall made clear and plain at once; for the types showedthat we all, as sinners, needed first of all Christ's ransomsacrifice, that we appropriate its merits (justification--forgiveness) to ourselves byfaith, and thatthus we arejustified (reckoned free from sin) when, turning from sin,we by faith accept of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf.The type showed, too, that it is onlyafter being thuscleansed in God's sight (by our acceptance of Christ'sfinished work as our ransom-sacrifice) that God is willingto accept us as jointsacrificers with Christ, so that iffaithful to the end, following in his footsteps, we shouldbe granted the favor of joint-heirship with him.
Here I first saw that the great privilege of becomingjoint-heirs with Christ and partakers with him of the divinenature wasconfined exclusively to those who wouldshare with him inself-sacrifice in the service of the Truth.And here, too, I saw for the first time that the Lord wasthefirst of these sacrifices of the Sin-Offering; consequently,that none of God's servants, the prophets, wholived and died before Christ, were priests after his order,nor sharers in sacrifice with him, even though some ofthem were stoned, others sawn asunder and others slainwith the sword, for the cause of God; that though they [R3825 : page 235]would get a good and great reward, they would belongto a separate class and order from those called to sacrificeand joint-heirship with Christ on and since Pentecost.Here, too, I first saw that "theacceptable day of theLord" signifies this Gospel age--the time during whichhe willaccept the sacrifice of any who come unto Godthrough Christ, the great Sin-Offering: that when thisacceptable day ends, the reward of joint-heirship andchange to the divine nature ends; and that when thisgreat day of sacrifice, the Gospel age (the real day ofAtonement), has closed, when all the members of thebody of Christ have participated with him in the sacrificeof their rights as justified men, and been glorified,then the blessing will begin to come to the world--theMillennial blessings purchased for men by their Redeemer,according to the grace of God.
This first brought a clear recognition of the distinctionof natures--of what constitutes human nature,what constitutes angelic nature and what constitutes divinenature, as shown in MILLENNIAL DAWN, Vol. I.,Chapter X. And whereas we formerly used the wordRESTITUTION in a general way to meansome sort ofblessed change, now, under the clearer light, we began tosee that the great work of restitution could only meanwhat the word implies--a restoration of that which waslost (Matt. 18:11)--a restoration to the original conditionfrom which man once fell. Then I saw that God's plan,when carried out, would not bring all his creatures to theone level of the divine nature, but that he purposed tohave an order of creatures called Angels, who, thoughperfect, would always be of a different order, or nature,from thedivine nature, and he likewise purposed to havea race of beings of thehuman nature, of whom Adamwas a sample or pattern, and whose future earthly home,Paradise, Eden was a sample or pattern. I also saw thatGod purposed that Christ and his joint-sacrificers andjoint-heirs are to be God's instruments for blessing thefallen race andrestoring them to the condition of perfectionenjoyed by Adam in Eden--a condition which Godsaid was "very good," and an image of himself. Andthese joint-heirs with Christ, I saw, were to be highly exaltedto a nature higher than restored and perfect manhood,higher, too, than the angelic nature--even to bepartakers of the divine nature. When all these thingsso unexpectedly shone out so brightly and clearly, I didnot wonder that the Lord gave me several days of waitingand preparation for the blessing, and to him I renderedpraise and thanks. All my faintness of heart andfear of the bad effect of the wrong view fled before thisevidence of the Lord's leading in the pathway that"shines more and more unto the perfect day." I saw atonce that these new developments would probably provea stumbling block to some, as well as a great blessing toothers who were ready for them. Instead, therefore, ofpublishing it in the next TOWER, I determined to first presentthe matter privately to the more prominent brethren;--remembering Paul's course in a similar matter.--Gal. 2:2.
Accordingly I sent invitations and the money necessaryfor traveling expenses to four of the more prominentbrethren, requesting a conference. Mr. Paton fromMichigan was one of the four, and the only one who rejectedthe fresh rays of light. Nor could he find anyfault with the exegesis, though urged, as all were, to stateanything which might seem inconsistent, or to quote anypassages of Scripture thought to be in conflict. But therewere none; and every question only demonstrated morefully the strength of the position. I therefore urged thatwhat was beyond the criticism of those most familiarwith the plan of God must be the truth, and ought to beconfessed and taught at any cost, and especially when itarranged and ordered all the other features of truth sobeautifully. I pointed out, too, how necessary it was toa logical holding of theransom, to see just what thisshowed; viz.: the distinctions of nature--that ourLord left a higher nature, and took a lower nature whenhe was made flesh, and that the object in that change ofnature was, that he might, as a man, a perfect man, givehimself aransom for the first perfect man, Adam, andthus redeem Adam, and all lost in him. I also showedhow, as a reward for this great work, he was given thedivine nature in his resurrection--a nature still higherthan the glorious one he had left, when he became a man.But either Mr. Paton's mental vision or heart was weak,for he never took the step; and before long he, too, forsookthe doctrine of the ransom. Yet he still used theword "ransom," while denying the idea conveyed by theword; nor can he give the word any other definition, orotherwise dispute the correctness of the meaning whichI attach to it--which may be found in any English dictionaryand is true to the significance of the Greek wordwhich it translates,anti-lutron, a price to correspond.
Notwithstanding our best endeavors to save him hedrifted farther and farther away, until I was obliged torefuse his articles for the TOWER for the same reason thatobliged me to refuse to longer spend the Lord's moneyentrusted to me to assist Mr. Barbour to spread the samepernicious theory.
It was about this time that Mr. Jones informed methat the copies of the bookDay Dawn which I had purchasedlast were all that were left; and, announcing it sothat no more orders for it might come to the TOWER office,I took occasion to promise MILLENNIAL DAWN,which should present the Plan of the Ages in the clearer,more orderly manner made possible by the new lightshed upon every feature of it by the lessons from theTabernacle. About this time Mr. Paton concluded thathe would publish another book under the nameDayDawn, revised to harmonize with his changed views,which ignored the ransom, ignored justification and theneed of either, and taught that all men will be everlastinglysaved--not in any sense as the result of any sacrificefor their sin by Christ, but as the result of each one'scrucifying sin in himself--the law under which the poorJews tried to commend themselves to God, but whichjustified none. Many and severe were the calumniesheaped upon me, because I exposed thischange, told thatthe original was out of print and that the new book wason a different foundation from the book of the same namewhich I had commended.
During this time I was busied by an immense workknown to many of you--the issue and circulation of over1,400,000 copies of two pamphlets, entitled FOOD FORTHINKING CHRISTIANS and TABERNACLE TEACHINGS,whose united matter was about the same as that ofDAWN, VOL. I.; and besides this I was flooded withthousands of joyous and joy-giving letters, from thosewho had received and were reading the pamphlets thusdistributed, and asking questions and more reading matter.To add to our throng, financial complications [R3825 : page 236]came; and thus for four years I was hindered from fulfillingmy promise of MILLENNIAL DAWN. Nor is ourpromise of the complete set yet fulfilled; for althoughsix volumes are now issued, a seventh on Revelation andEzekiel is still future: delayed by the growth of thegeneral work, doubtless in accord with the Lord's "duetime." But during those four years I struggled throughan immense amount of labor and many drawbacks (allcheerfully undergone for the sake of the Lord and hissaints), each year hoping to be able to gather the hoursnecessary to complete the first volume of MILLENNIALDAWN.
Some who haveThe Three Worlds or theold editionofDay Dawn would perhaps like to know mypresent opinion of them--whether I still think themprofitable books to loan to truth-seekers. To this I reply,Certainly not; because the very immature views of God'struth therein presented fall far short of what we now seeto be God's wonderful plan. Things which are nowclear as noonday were then cloudy and mixed. The distinctionsbetween the perfecthuman nature to which theobedient of the world will berestored during the Millennium,and thedivine nature to which the little flock, thesacrificing elect of the Gospel age, are soon to beexalted,were then unnoticed. All now so clear was then blurred,mixed and indistinct. Neither had we then seen thesteps or planes, shown upon the Chart of the Ages, MILLENNIALDAWN, Vol. I., which have assisted so manyto distinguish between justification and sanctification,and to determine their present standing and relationshipto God. [R3826 : page 236]
Once I was much less careful about what I circulatedor commended, but I am learning every day to bemore careful as to what sort of food I put before any ofthe Lord's hungry sheep. The Lord has taught me thatit is a responsible matter to be a teacher, even to the extentof circulating a book or a paper. EvenFood forThinking Christians (now also out of print), I no longercommend because it is less systematic and therefore lessclear than later publications. (Vol. I., MILLENNIALDAWN, in magazine form, the special "Hell" editionof the WATCH TOWER, Jan. 15, '01, and Tract No. 52,all bear this title, and are not to be confounded withthe original booklet issued in 1881.)
Another chapter in our experience needs to be told,as it marks another shaking and sifting. Mr. A. D.Jones proposed to start a paper on the same line as theWATCH TOWER, to republish some of the simpler featuresof God's plan and to be a sort of missionary andprimary teacher. Knowing him to be clear on the subjectof the ransom, I bade him God speed and introduceda sample copy of his paper,Zion's Day Star (now forsome years discontinued), to our nearly ten thousandreaders--only, as it soon proved, to stumble some ofthem into rank infidelity and others into the rejection ofthe ransom; for though theDay Star for a few monthssteered a straight course and maintained the same positionas the TOWER with reference to the ransom, and forthe same reason refused the no-ransom articles sent forits columns by Mr. Paton, yet within one year it had repudiatedChrist's atoning sacrifice, and within anotheryear it had gone boldly into infidelity and totally repudiatedall the rest of the Bible as well as those portionswhich teach the fall in Adam and the ransom therefromin Christ.
All this meant another strain, another sifting,another cutting loose of friends, who erroneously supposedthat our criticisms of the false doctrines wereprompted by a spirit of rivalry, and who did not so soonsee whither his teachings were drifting, nor how great theimportance of holding fast the first principles of the doctrinesof Christ--how Christdied for our sins androseagain for our justification.
We want to put you all on notice that the shakingand sifting process, so far from being over and past, isbound to progress more and more until all have beentried and tested thoroughly. It is not a question of whomay fall, but of "Who shall be able to stand?" as theApostle puts it. And we have need again to rememberthe admonition, "Let him who thinketh he standeth[who feels very confident, as did Peter when he said,'Lord, though all forsake thee, yet will not I'] take heedlest he fall."
This doctrine of another way of salvation (and salvationfor all, too) than by the cross of Christ, is not onlythe error which is, and has been since 1874, sifting all whocome into the light of Present Truth, but it is the trial thatis to come upon the whole of so-called Christendom totry them. (Rev. 3:10.) It is already spreading amongall classes of Christian people, especially among ministersof all denominations. The number who believe thatChrist's death paid our sin-penalty is daily gettingsmaller, and before very long there will be a regular stampedefrom the doctrine of man's fall in Adam and hisransom from that fall by "the man Christ Jesus." (I Tim. 2:5,6.)As the Psalmist prophetically pictured it, athousand will fall to one who will stand.--Psa. 91:7.
The time has come for each one to declare himselfboldly. He who is not for the cross (the ransom) isagainst it! He that gathereth not scattereth abroad!He who is silent on this subject, when it is being assailedby foes on every hand, whether it be the silence of fear,or of shame, or of indifference, is not worthy of the truth,and will surely be one to stumble quickly. He who fromany cause sits idly by, while the banner of the cross isassailed, is not a soldier of the cross worthy the name,and will not be reckoned among the overcomers whoshall inherit all things. And God is permitting these verysiftings, in order to sift out all who are not "overcomers,"and to test and manifest the little flock, who, like Gideon'sfinal army, will, though few, share the victory andhonors of their Captain in glory.
Are you prepared for the issue, dear brethren andsisters? The armor of Truth has been given you forsome time past; have you put it on? have you made ityour shield and buckler? your defense against all thewily arts of the Evil One?
Do not be deceived by the agents Satan often makesuse of. In this he will be as cunning as in his presentationof the deceptive misrepresentations of truth, makingunwitting use of many a weaker brother, and to some extentof every stumbling and deceived one, to spreadfarther the infection of false doctrine. And while everychild of God should take earnest heed, that he prove notan occasion of stumbling to any, we cannot doubt thatevery one, through some instrumentality, will beassailed.
Aptly indeed did the Prophet liken it to a pestilence.(Psa. 91:6.) A pestilence spreads because people are ina physical condition which renders them susceptible todisease. Physicians say that those whose systems arein good, healthy order are in little danger of any disease. [R3826 : page 237]So it is with a spiritual pestilence: it will flourish not onlybecause all will be exposed to it who have not a clear intellectualappreciation of the doctrines of Christ, butfrom another cause also. Out of the heart are the issuesof life, and most needful of all to be in right conditionis the heart. How is your heart? Is it proud, boastful,independent, self-conscious and self-willed? If so, takecare; you will be very liable to this epidemic, no matterhow far from it you may seem to be. Pray for
"A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
The dear Redeemer's throne,
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone."
With such a heart you are safe. In meekness andlowliness, you will never think of redeeming yourselffrom the condemnation that you inherited throughAdam, by sacrificing present sinful desires, but you willflee to the cross, where God himself opened the fountainfor sin and uncleanness, present as well as past.
DOTH THIS OFFEND YOU?
We presume that this warning will offend some,though it is not designed to offend any. It is writtenfor the defense of the meek against the sophistries oferror. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord [intothe Kingdom offered]? or who shall stand in his holyplace? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart [whois diligently fashioning his life after the principles of holiness];who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity [whocultivates no earthly ambitions or pride, but patientlywaits for the glory to follow the course of present self-sacrifice],nor sworn deceitfully [ignoring or despising hiscovenant with God]: He shall receive the blessing of theLord [the Kingdom glory and joint-heirship with Christ],and righteousness [perfection--full deliverance frompresent infirmities, etc.] from the God of his salvation."(Psa. 24:3-5.) "Watch and pray, that ye enter notinto temptation"--that "your minds be not corruptedfrom the simplicity that is in Christ." Let all the meekfully awake to the trial of the hour; and while manyare putting stumbling blocks in the way of the "feet"of the body of Christ, let each soldier of the cross bevigilant, not only to stand, but to assist others--bearingup the "feet."--Psa. 91:11,12.
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