Untitled article by C. Cunningham

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 6, 1867

HENRY WARD BEECHER ON THE ADVENT.

By C. Cunningham

In his Christmas sermon for 1866, Henry Ward Beecher made the following remarks,—some expressions in which I have italicized:—

'I know not whether the second advent of Christ is at hand or not. I know not even what the meaning of it is. That there is to be a literal visit of Christ to the earth again they may believe who are wedded to physical interpretations of the Scriptures. I do not so read the word of God. But that there is to be a power of Christ upon the earth that may be fitly called his second coming; that the world is to be so filled with his glory that no man shall have occasion to say to his fellow-men 'Know the Lord,' because all shall know him from the greatest to the least; and that there is to be a new heaven and a new earth, in which dwelleth righteousness, I do profoundly believe. I believe in a glorious period of development, that is to make the world's history as bright as noon-day. What it may be I know not; and how near we may be to it, I know not. The signs of the times are auspicious, and they all point in one way.'

Is the above "meat in due season" to the "household" of faith? Is it not giving the trumpet an "uncertain sound," so that none by it will be led to prepare themselves "to the battle?" What is the cause of this ignorance as to the nearness of the "day of the Lord?" Has not our Saviour bidden his church to know when he is near, yea, "even at the doors," by the occurrence of specified signs, with the same certainty they know that summer is nigh when the trees begin to send out their buds and leaves? And were not the signs to be as unmistakable in one case as in the other? Is not ignorance of the nearness of that day unjustifiable, therefore, and a plain violation of a positive command? Is not the cause of this ignorance, not a lack of evidence, but of warm affection for Christ, which cares not to see him, and has no especial regard for the Saviour's own interest and glory? Does he not desire to enter into the "joy set before him when he endured the cross," and "see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied?" and will not the heart beating in sympathy with Him, long for the arrival of that day, particularly on the Saviour's own account, saying with Cowper,

'Come, then, and added to thy many crowns, Receive yet one, the crown of all the earth, Thou who alone art worthy ?'

And has it come to this, that Christ's professed servants, who are commanded to watch for his coming, "know not even what the meaning" of that coming may be?

"If I go away, I will come again." "This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner, as ye have seen him go into Heaven." "The Lord himself (not his Spirit) shall descend from Heaven." "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him."

In the face of these plain declarations, to profess ignorance as to their significance, does not speak very highly for one's scholarship, or candor. If H. W. B. should send word to any place that he would come there to lecture on a given evening, what would he think, if those receiving the message should declare ignorance as to the meaning of it, saying that all might believe he intended a "literal visit" to the place who were "wedded to physical interpretations" of language; but as for them they did not "so read" the letter of H. W. B.?

If a certain "power of Christ upon the earth," will fulfill the prophecies of his second coming, why were not the prophecies of his first advent fulfilled in the same way? Can men thus trifle with the word of the Eternal with impunity? Is a "glorious period of development" all that is intended by the grand exhibition of the second advent of Jesus Christ to judgment, the resurrection and translation of his people, the conflagration of the earth, and its restoration to Edenistic beauty, and the reign of the Son of God conjointly with his saints forever and ever? No wonder H. W. B. does not know what this development may be, or how near we may be to it, as he is unable to understand what the Saviour means, when he says, "Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

We agree with him in the closing statement that the "signs of the times are auspicious, and they all point one way." The blindness, ignorance, and indifference manifested by the ministry and laity relative to Christ's second glorious appearing and kingdom, are one of the prominent "signs of the times," which are indeed "auspicious," and "point one way," as with one clear and united voice they proclaim "The great day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly;" for when they shall say "peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them." Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh will he find the faith in the land?

May God have mercy upon the masses who are being led astray by the "blind guides" of this day, and rescue some to be the everlasting trophies of his grace in his coming, hastening kingdom.—C. CUNNINGHAM, in Advent Herald.