Untitled article by M. W. Howard

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 6, 1866

Suggested Thoughts. No. 3.

By M. W. Howard

THE time has been when, even if a meeting took the expression of one just attended, I could by making a mental reservation, join heartily in the petition, "O Lord, open thou the blind eyes:" I referring to one phase of blindness, the petitioner to another. So, too, if the glory of Christ's future kingdom was set forth, I could let my mind overlap the period, dark as midnight, because iniquity shall abound and the love of many shall wax cold, and appreciate the time, "When the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heavens, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High." Dan. vii, 27.

But now the opening remark from the leader struck so gratefully upon my ear at the beginning, and ere the sentence closed sounded with such dissonance, that my mind did not regain its wonted equanimity, and perhaps a spirit of unfriendly criticism was awakened. At any rate, I kept revolving in my own heart, "If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?" Is it a darkness, or ignorance at which "God winketh," or is it that of which "God commands us to repent," when Scripture is so wrested, yes, mutilated and spliced, that such petitions are offered, ostensibly, in good faith, as, "We know, O Lord, thou hast left this work (the world's conversion) for man to accomplish. Fulfill, therefore, thy promise, that a nation shall be regenerated and converted in a day?" Or, "We know thou hast promised that thou wilt turn and overturn among the nations till the world is converted to thee." The Bible student will find no difficulty in correcting these misquotations, or in changing the improved (?) phraseology back to the sacred writers.

But the remark that moved this zeal in prayer, worthy of correct premises, was this, "Though we have little confidence in man's wisdom, yet it may be worth our while to observe it, for many great and good men who have given time and study to the prophecies, have set this present year as one in which great events are to transpire, that will bring great multitudes to Christ; and thus bring on that glorious period—the world converted to God. To complete this work it would be necessary for every nominal professor of religion to be instrumental in bringing one hundred and fifty souls to Christ. And is there a Christian heart but would throb with grateful emotion could we thus do."

Some truly good things were spoken, calculated to cheer every Christian heart; thus, "God never sets before his children a duty to be performed, but alongside is given a precious promise to encourage and sustain. When our Saviour gave his farewell commission, 'Go discipline all nations, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,' he added, 'Lo I am with you always to the end of the world.'"

Perhaps I had less patience than usual with what was to me unscriptural, from the wretched attempt at a funeral not long ago, to make the beautiful words of Isa. xxv, 8, "And he will swallow up death in victory," refer to this triumph of the gospel, or spiritual kingdom throughout the world. For the lesson on that occasion, were read selected passages of the word of God, and among them—"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." When the text was announced "And he will swallow up death in victory," my heart grew joyous as I thought the resurrection was to be the theme. Judge then of my surprise at the fanciful position assumed. I even felt to pity the speaker in his futile, pitiful attempt to clear away the mist and darkness in which he had enveloped himself and his text; and this, too, just after reading that clear exposition of it, given by Paul to the Corinthians which I have quoted.

He did, however, emerge from the fog enough to catch a glimpse of its true meaning, and admitted that it referred also to the rising of Christ from the dead, and his glorious ascension to Heaven; and dropped the remark that doubtless, too, it had reference to the general resurrection; but blundered back, by

twice affirming that "the text was no longer prophecy, but had become history! History from the resurrection of Christ; history from the onward march of the gospel."

In the language of another, I felt constrained to say, "We are not proud, but we are glad. We are not vain at our success, but we are thankful," that our eyes are opened, that we see not through so perverted a medium. For correctly viewed, this coming time of glory to the church,—the true Israel of God of which the prophecies so much speak, is sufficient to animate the dullest heart, and awaken the liveliest faith. For surely "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth;" then, "Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty." Then, "At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." Hab. ii, 14. Zech. xiv, 9. Isa. xxxiii, 17. Phil. ii, 10, 11.

Reader, did it never occur to you, that it is at the name of Jesus—the human name,—the name by which he was known among men, that every knee shall bow? Yes! not only willing knees, but unwilling knees shall bow, and even unwilling "tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father;" for they will be "compelled to do so, by Himself speaking from his Great White Throne." I doubt not but you hope somehow to be acquitted in that day, and stand unabashed in that assembly. But have you a well-grounded hope that you can "be without fault before the throne?" Perhaps if you are a professor of religion, you will reply in the flippancy of the times, "Jesus has paid it all, all the debt I owe." Oh yes! I know full well he has, else none of us could hope to stand. "But he that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he (Christ) is pure." This is the gospel rule. Are you thus seeking to purify yourself, that you may stand upon that sea of glass before the throne, harp in hand, ready to bow the willing knee, and strike the golden harp to that new song,—the song of Moses and the Lamb? If not, oh how you must "wail," at that majestic presence, as you realize that all unclothed, you are to meet him with whom you have to do, and under the awfully aggravated circumstances, that Christ had provided a robe of righteousness, and you refused to put it on!

M. W. HOWARD.

Malone, N. Y., Feb. 1866.