PRESENT TRUTH vs. NEW TIMES.
By Editor
Our readers are well aware that among first-day Adventists, there has been for a few years past, quite a movement in progress on the subject of definite time for the second advent of Christ. They have also seen that but little has been said on this subject by the REVIEW. And while we have been thus indifferent respecting the new times that have been set, we have not even deemed it necessary to give a reason for this course. This must be apparent, to say the least, to most of those who are acquainted with the teaching of the REVIEW. We have not deemed it possible that there could be anything in any new-time movement calculated, in the least degree, to shake the faith of our brethren. Every new time bears upon its face the proclamation that every previous time has been false. To speak of the only past time movement in which we have taken any interest, a new time is a declaration to every S. D. Adventist that the great work of 1844 was all false. In the event to take place at the end of the days, there was a mistake, as all are agreed; but this need not, and does not, invalidate the movement, as in the providence of God, and a fulfillment of prophecy, if the time was correct. But the moment we give up this point, we throw away the whole movement. Now what were the characteristics of that work? Those who bore a part in it, and know anything of the Spirit of God, know that that Spirit was the impelling power. There was more zeal, more piety, more learning, more success, and more of the Spirit and power of God, many times over, in that movement, than in any new-time proclamation that has given its feeble utterance since that year. Now if we are obliged to give this up, what confidence can we have in any subsequent movement? What confidence can any man have in his own religious life, if the best and most satisfactory part of his experience has to be thrown away? The fact that the Spirit of God was so largely present in the work of 1844, ought to have great weight. Wherever we see that Spirit, as evinced by its manifestations and its fruits, and have evidence that God is moving in the work, it should not be lightly regarded whether it be past or present. The question has been asked us if we have no confidence in the great men who have since written upon the prophecies, and given different views of the prophetic periods from those taken in 1844. We answer that we have no evidence that God is leading and directing their minds, as he led his people in 1844. The Spirit of truth was promised to guide God's people into all truth; and we care nothing for any theory, by whatever process it may be elaborated, where the workings of this Spirit are not manifestly present. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; and the humble, devoted, sincere seeker after truth, for whom God has a work, though he may have less mental culture than the cold-hearted, formal professor, will be led to a right understanding of God's will and word, while the latter, depending on his worldly wisdom, will only in pompous phrase and high-sounding nonsense, wander still farther into the dark labyrinths of error. But we have other reasons for not giving up the '44 movement, in favor of any subsequent time theory. If that movement was wrong, and every subsequent one wrong, as they must have been if there is any occasion for a new time, we are but just having, or are yet to have, the true Advent movement, or the first of the messages of Rev. xiv; and to any one at all conversant with the theory of present truth, we need say no more. Overthrow this, and every other point follows in due course. If a new time is to be proclaimed, there is nothing to the third angel's message and its associate truths, notwithstanding the mighty array of evidence by which they are supported. Yet one correspondent writes that he believes he has new light on the prophetic periods; that a new proclamation on time is yet to be made, and this is what is to give power to the third message! And he says that some have requested him to write out his views. To us, this is a matter of no small astonishment. Such persons either cannot thoroughly have examined the present truth so as to understand the basis upon which it rests, and the bearing of all its parts upon each other, or they lack faith in its correctness. We cannot advise any one to spend time in writing out arguments for a new time, nor have we five minutes to spend in reading them, till we are first convinced that what we at present believe is all error. It will be useless for any one to call our attention to a new boat, while all the evidence stands that we are in the right one already. When it can be shown that this boat is destined never to reach the haven, but that her timbers are unsound, and wreck certain, then we will look elsewhere for a safer passage. But, as yet, we see no grounds for fear that those who keep aboard the ship will not get safely through. When the false excitement of false time has passed by, we hope that many may be induced to accept a better view; for when 1868 is past, those who have the presumption to fix further times, will not probably look to points nearer than 1873 or '75.