REFORMS by J. C. | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1860

REFORMS.

By J. C.

It seems that God in his infinite wisdom did foresee the precise way in which sin would develop itself in its ravages as a disorder, and the time required for each stage of development, and seeing this, has prepared an antidote for each, that whoever would submit to the remedy should recover; and at different periods in the world's history, we find it shaken by reforms which revelation foretold should occur at those very periods.

Different ages develop different forms of error, and reforms take their character from the work they have to perform. Thus the reform in the early age of Christianity, was a reform from idolatry among the heathen, and from legality among the Jews; and the reform of the 16th century had for its pass-word, “Justification by faith,” against the papal errors of penance and works, and image and saint worship; it was of God, but men rested content with this stride, and justification by faith is now carried to its extreme, and sincerity and faith are made a hobby by which to overleap the law of God. Infinite wisdom foresaw this, and revelation informs us of a reform having the commands of God coupled with the faith of Jesus; of the people who will heed this warning of the third angel, and gain the victory over the beast.

At this period we behold the stern necessity of just such a reform, and so it is in progress. It is a continuation of the reform of the 16th century; and that was a link with those preceding which, when finished, will form a grand whole, manifesting the goodness and wisdom of God. At each of these periods of reform, the masses of men, blinded by sin and emboldened by numbers, and backed by the visible church (for the professed church has even arrayed herself against reform), have systematically opposed reforms and reformers. Repentance is a bitter pill for the carnal heart, and ever will be. J. C.