PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF THE REMNANT.
By S. N. H.
We are living in the most important period of this world's history. As we near the second coming of Christ, the perils increase on every hand. Time has continued longer than many expected, and this, instead of creating more earnestness and devotion, has the opposite effect on many of the people of God. All should remember that God's mercy and probationary time have a limit. It was when the fullness of time had come that God sent forth his Son. Not another day could be granted to the world before Christ did come; and so with probation, the end of which is just before the people of God, there is a limit; but where that boundary line is,—the moment, the day, the year,—is not revealed in the Bible. The great anxiety therefore on the part of the people of God should be to have an experience that will stand the test. This experience will be of no ordinary character; the evidence of our acceptance should not rest on any manifestation of power in healing the sick or in casting out devils, or even of zeal itself; for Christ says, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7: 22, 23. The persons here referred to have prophesied, or thought to prophesy. They think they have cast out devils and done many wonderful works, and this they say they have done in the name of the Lord. It is useless for us to give this scripture all away to those who do not believe the Third Angel's Message; many who profess present truth will be among the number. To understand the word of God, and to have an experience that is in harmony with it, is of the utmost importance.555 The apostle Peter, in speaking of his experience with the Saviour upon the mount, when he heard the words, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy.” 2 Peter 1: 19-21. Any experience that does not cause a person to rejoice more in the Word than in the manifestation of the power of God, or in a special revelation of his love, is very questionable. The disciples on their way to Emmaus, mourning over Christ's death, said, “We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel.” The Saviour could have relieved their feelings in a moment of time; but there was something more important than this, and so he began by saying, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24: 25-27. The most important thing was for them to learn from Moses and the prophets in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. When this was done, and he had opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures, they were prepared for a revelation of himself. We should have a personal experience with God. Every Christian will have this, and will know that God forgives his sins and accepts him. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Rom. 8: 15, 16. And even more than this: “He . . . hath given unto us the earnest [or assurance] of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5: 5, 6. But this experience, unless it gives a relish for the word of God, is not to be relied upon. The word of God becomes a test, and that word is the prophecy that relates to the time in which we live. There is still another test, which, considered from the standpoint of the experience of John the Baptist, becomes equally important. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb. He was the greatest prophet that ever lived upon the earth. No man born of woman was greater than John the Baptist. His life reached the height of self-abnegation. This the Scriptures plainly reveal. When the Saviour came to be baptized of him in Jordan, John felt the holy atmosphere surrounding the Son of God. He was different from those who had come confessing their sins, so John forbade him, saying, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” Considering the character of John the Baptist, and his feelings when the Saviour approached him to be baptized of him, it would seem that there could be no mistake in his experience: yet his own words are, “I KNEW HIM NOT: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” John 1: 31-34. John was a prophet, but he did no miracles. God had revealed to him that when he was baptizing in Jordan, Christ would come, asking for baptism at his hands; and yet he did not know him until that which he had seen in vision was fulfilled; namely, the Holy Spirit descending and remaining upon him. Here was his experience confirmed by the living testimony, which was the crowning evidence that Christ was the Messiah. So in the church to-day, John becomes a representative. The living testimony is in the church, and our experience must be in harmony with that living testimony, or else it is questionable. No wonder the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who have the testimony of Jesus Christ, or the Spirit of Prophecy. Rev. 12: 17; 19: 10. The living testimony in the remnant is to be a test of genuine Christian experience. Whenever we find anything in our hearts rebelling against the plain commands of God, revealed in the word of God or in the Testimonies given by the Spirit of God, we are on dangerous ground. It makes no difference how “happy” and “free” we may be feeling, we are being deceived unless that freedom comes from obedience to God's requirements. David says, “I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also.” Ps. 119: 45, 46. S. N. H.