OBJECTIONS AND CONTRADICTIONS.
By R. F. Cottrell
SKEPTICS think they find contradictions in the Bible. But upon examination it is found that one-half of the contradictions are in their own head and the other half only in the Bible; i. e., they have certain notions fixed in their minds as Bible teaching, and find something in the Bible which contradicts these preconceived and false ideas, and they come at once to the conclusion that the Bible teaches two opposing and irreconcilable doctrines. Professed skeptics and open infidels are not the only ones who find difficulties in believing clearly revealed Bible truths. Christians have their unfounded notions established in their minds as revealed truth, which stand right in the way of their believing the most plain and demonstrated truths of revelation. I have greatly wondered how it was that when we teach the change in the ministration of our High Priest from the holy to the most holy place to cleanse the sanctuary, that is, to blot out the sins of his people, thus judging them worthy of eternal life and deciding to give them a part in the first resurrection, I say, I have wondered how it was that we were represented as teaching that probation closed in 1844; especially as we always exhort the people to close with the offers of mercy while we have a Priest in the sanctuary, before he shall finish his intercessions at the mercy-seat, and come to reward men according as their works shall be. But the objection has just come to me clothed in such language as to give me the clue. The objector said he could not believe that Jesus had already left the mediatorial seat and come to judgment. Ah! that is an expression I have often heard—“I left the mediatorial seat and come to judgment”—but what does it mean? and who is the author of it? It is a human phrase, and we may attach a scriptural or an unscriptural idea to it. If we mean that Christ leaves his mediatorial office when he comes to execute the judgment by giving to every man according as his work shall be, our views are in harmony with the Scriptures. But if we mean that he leaves his mediatorial office and comes to sit in judgment, bringing before his tribunal those whose sins were blotted out while he was a Priest, (and at no other time can their sins be blotted out,) the idea is not only unscriptural, but unreasonable and absurd. And this is the way men are prepared to object to, and reject truth. It does not harmonize with some notion they have imbibed, which, though unscriptural and unreasonable, is as sacred to them as law and gospel; and instead of correcting their thoughts and bringing them to harmonize with reason and revealed truth, they reject the truth. Judgment is given to the saints of the Most High, and then the time comes that they possess the kingdom. Dan. vii, 22. The saints are rewarded with immortality, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the coming of Christ, the last trump, and their resurrection from the grave. Therefore they have been judged worthy of eternal life before this event. And when was this? When Jesus, as their mediator, finished the work of the atonement in their behalf by blotting out their sins and confessing their names before his Father in the temple of God in Heaven, their names, their sins, their repentance, their faith, and the righteous acts of their lives, were brought in review before God, and they were acquitted. Their sins were forever removed, never to be remembered against them. Do not talk of judging them after that. Nothing remains but to give them their reward. But from their own false ideas men infer that we teach that Christ has left the mediatorial office, consequently that probation is closed, and they are so filled with this that they cannot hear us when we plead with them to come to Christ for pardon and reconciliation while he still pleads for all that come to God through him, and before the irrevocable decree shall go forth, He that is filthy let him be filthy still. So it is; but, thank God, some will hear.