Untitled article by MARY W. HOWARD

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 8, 1867

THOMAS CARLYLE'S MILLENNIUM VIEWS.

By MARY W. HOWARD

Few there are who would thread through the mazes of Thomas Carlyle, even for the gems of rich thought he is reputed to evolve. But below is given an extract worthy to be noted as the opinion, resulting from his observation of men and manners,—the opinion of one, of whom those who differ from him admit, “Want of discernment is not one of his misfortunes; no man is quicker to see facts.”

“All the millenniums I ever heard of heretofore, were to be preceded by the chaining of the Devil a thousand years;—laying him, tied neck and heels, and put beyond stirring, as the preliminary. Preliminary steps have been taken, with more or less ardor for the last thirty years; but they all seem to be in the opposite direction; a cutting asunder of straps and ties wherever found; pretty indiscriminate of choice in the matter. . . . So that now hardly any limb of the Devil has any thrum or tether of rope or leather left upon it. In fact, he is likely to become an emancipated gentleman; lithe of limb, as in Adam and Eve's time, and scarcely a toe or finger of him tied any more. And you my friends are certainly getting into a millennium such as hardly entered into the dreams of Bedlam.”

The above, scathing as it is, cannot be called a caricature, but rather a fitting commentary upon those Scripture words, “The Devil has come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” And pitiable as it is that there should be occasion for the following, it must nevertheless be admitted that there are indications of its fulfillment.

“In a limited time, say fifty years hence, the church, all churches and so-called religions—the Christian religion itself, shall have deliquesced into—Liberty of Conscience, Progress of Opinion, Progress of Intellect, Philanthropic Movement, and other aqueous residuums of a vapid, badly-scented character—and shall, like water spilt upon the ground, trouble nobody considerably thenceforth, but evaporate at its leisure.”

Very grateful may Adventists be that they have a sure word of prophecy, begetting a better hope for the future of our world than that eliminated by the progress of man. Yea, they may rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, that Jesus Christ “hath begotten us to a lively hope through his resurrection from the dead.” Rejoice that Jesus spoke those prophetic words, “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me.” A strange way it did seem to draw all men unto him, when they saw him lifted upon the cross, even unto death. No wonder they sorrowfully said, “We trusted that it had been he that should redeem Israel.” And so it was. But as yet they had not learned the comprehensive view of those prophecies which spoke glorious things of Christ's coming kingdom. Alas! that to this day the words of Jesus, “Oh fools and slow of heart to believe the prophecies,” are so applicable to such a majority of mankind, who blindly shut their eyes, and steel their hearts to the literal kingdom to which Christ shall redeem his Israel; and persistently follow a myth they cannot define.

In proof of this inability to define, a little incident may appropriately be given here. Gathered around an evening table were a group, among whom were two intelligent, well-educated young ladies. In the conversation the remark was incidentally made by one of them, “When the millennium comes.” Yea, replied I, if you can tell what you mean by the millennium. “Why” said she, “that good time to the church, of which the Bible tells.” I wish you would point some of the passages out to me, I asked. A “Scripture Manual” was conveniently at hand. She turned to the heading “Millennium,” hastily conned over the passages and looked up in blank astonishment. Isa. lxvi, 8, was turned to and read. It had been quoted by each in turn, and even by myself, not quite correctly. “Are you sure,” she asked, “that is the only passage that speaks of a nation being born in a day?” Quite sure that is the nearest to it of any passage in the Bible, I replied. Utterly confounded, but not in the least angered she rose from the table, playfully saying, “Now Mrs. H., next time you battle for that point do you do it stronger, for the passage does not come so near affirming that, as you yourself admitted.

MARY W. HOWARD.