p. 16 | Well, Is It Not So?

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 19, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 37.

Well, Is It Not So?

The editor of a religious paper, the Baptist Flag, issues a “counterblaste” against Seventh-day Adventists and a book published by them. To show the evil character of the book he quotes the following, from pages 144, 145:—

“7. In what condition are the thoughts of the dead? “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 146:4.

“8. Do the dead know anything? “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Eccl. 9:5.

“9. What part, if any, do they take in earthly things? “Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.” Eccl. 9:6.”

Now here are direct questions and direct Bible answers. What fault is to be found with the questions? Has not any man a right to ask them, even as thousands are asking them? And does not the Bible answer them? Well, is not that so which the Bible teaches? And yet he calls this book “abominable.” This good editor further says in referring to a Chicago criminal:—

“Holmes recently said, I am a believer in the teachings of Tom Paine and Ingersoll. That is, he believes that man has no soul. It seems he and the Seventh-day Adventists hold pretty much the same doctrine—that there is to be no punishment after death. Infidelity, whether it is the name of religion, or outspoken, promotes crime.”

Now this editor did know the teaching of Seventh-day Adventists, or he did not. If he did not, he should not have so represented them. If he did know, he stated an absolute untruth. See “Bible Readings,” the book referred to above, pages 75–79, 138–148. But we are glad to believe that this writer does not represent all Baptists. He who is in a good cause can afford to be fair. But it is not our general purpose to notice such tirades. When these things are brought to the notice of our friends, let them refer the questioner to the writings of Seventh-day Adventists and the word of God.