The Atonement by J. H. Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 7, 1871

The Atonement.

By J. H. Waggoner

To L. H. H.: I do not claim that God was under obligation to reveal his will to man, nor that he was under obligation to establish any government at all in the earth. But having instituted a moral system, and established a government, it is both reasonable and just that they who are amenable to the government should be made acquainted with its requirements. I think you are in part mistaken in your view of Rom. 2. The apostle in this chapter, also in Rom. 5, speaks not of those who had no knowledge of law, but those who did not receive the law at Mount Sinai. Compare 1 Cor. 9: 20, 21. It is evident that much of the knowledge of moral principles now possessed by heathen nations comes to them by tradition, and this tradition reaches back to a revelation made to and for the race of man.

Or, otherwise, take Rom. 1, as a prior statement concerning the ignorance of the nations. “When they knew God they glorified him not as God,”—“did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” They who put from them the knowledge of God, and selfishly forget his word and their own obligation, do not thereby impair the validity of that word nor lessen their obligation. Some in our own land make no effort to acquaint themselves with the laws, and remain ignorant of the requirements of the government. But they do not destroy the force of the fact that the government must publish its laws in order to perpetuate its own existence; nor can they escape the just claim of the government by their wilful ignorance.

You certainly misapprehend me if you think I affirmed that the government is obliged as an act of justice to reveal terms of pardon. He who has forfeited all rights has no claim for pardon; but if pardon is to be found, who shall reveal its conditions? My remark is that it is the sole prerogative (privilege) of the government to determine the means whereby a rebel may be restored to citizenship. Please read again on that subject, page 33. You will see that I argue for the government, and against the right of offenders to devise their own terms of restoration.

I cannot discover any defect in the reasoning you quote from The Advance. Your assertion that God “has not given to mankind—except to a small minority—such written revelation,” is not sustained by any facts with which I am acquainted—and certainly not by the Scriptures. Every government is clear in judgment if it publicly proclaims its laws, and institutes sufficient means whereby all may become acquainted with them. If desired I will cite to abundance of Scripture testimony to sustain this view. But I think they will readily suggest themselves to every reader.

J. H. WAGGONER.