Any of the Rulers? by Epsilon

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 26, 1885

Any of the Rulers?

By Epsilon

"Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?" John 8:48.

THIS question, asked by the opposing rulers, opens to the mind a great lesson in human nature. It carries the idea that the common people must follow the rulers instead of searching the truth for themselves and for the truth's sake. The rulers insinuated that, as none of themselves nor the Pharisees had believed on Jesus, therefore he must be an impostor; and that as the common people could not know the law, they were in consequence cursed by being led astray by this one on whom the rulers would not believe. This large class of people do not love truth, and no amount of proof will induce them to leave the popular current and accept that which is unpopular. But another very small class are lovers of truth. "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." Two of the Jewish rulers, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, were Christ's disciples; but they did not confess their belief. They doubtless wished to retain their high office. But they were watching the truth, and probably hoped that their positions might some day help the cause.

The Lord knows his work, and would not have his church burdened by swarms of time-servers and favor-seekers who have no real love of truth, but would join any popular church for the sake of society, or the hope of being helped in business. A church would better weep than rejoice at the increase of such members.

Jesus, knowing that the great mass of people would walk in the broad and popular road that leads to destruction, says to the "little flock." "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John 15:19. Following the church from the cross of the crucified Redeemer down through the book of Revelation, to the coming of the King in his glory, we cross many a stream of blood and tears, verifying the Saviour's words, "And ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Matt. 24:9.

What shall we say of the wisdom of those Protestants who are now trying to popularize the churches by law? At the time the Roman Church was established by law, it was an untried experiment; but Protestants now have all the history of the past before them, and yet seem willing, yea, anxious, to repeat the history of that ignoble church. The idea of trying to convert people by law is like saying, "Rather than have people receive truth because they may happen to love truth, we choose to have the church freighted down with mere pretenders." A large crop of hypocrites is an inevitable result of a popularized church. But the true church, "hated of all nations," will stand for pure principles, let the majority act as they may.

It is no other than the "false prophet" of Rev. 13:11 that is preaching the world's conversion, and imploring the help of the civil law in making a "Christian nation." The true Prophet says, "Ye shall be hated of all nations," and that the "man of sin" will be consumed by the brightness of the Lord's coming; that men will cry for rocks and mountains to fall on them; that they that worship the beast and his image, or receive his mark, will suffer the seven last plagues, and die the second death.

EPSILON.