A Question Easy to Answer.
A SHORT time since, an article appeared in the SIGNS in regard to the coming of Christ. Certain lines of prophecy, reaching down to the end of time, were briefly examined, to show that we are very near the end. It was shown that but little yet remains to be done before that event, the enforcement of Sunday as the "Christian Sabbath," and the warning against such an act being all that is not already fulfilled. The National Reform Association is actively engaged in trying to bring about the first, and those who love and keep the Sabbath of the Lord, are doing the second. After reading that article, a gentleman in the northern part of the State writes as follows:— "You as in duty bound pray for the coming of the Lord, hope for it, work for it; and you say that but one point in the line of prophecy remains to be fulfilled, and that one point is this one sought for by the National Reform Association. Now how can you have the heart to work against that consummation? Why oppose the coming of your Lord? If this image of the first beast is to be made, why oppose the making? Would it not be better to work with all your might for a consummation so devoutly to be wished?" We can show the fallacy of this position by stating a similar proposition. In 2 Thess. 2:1–8. Paul corrects an error that had obtained in the Thessalonian Church in regard to the coming of the Lord. They thought that it was then close at hand, but he says: "Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed," etc. Now it would not have been a mark of wisdom on the part of those Thessalonian brethren to say, "The coming of the Lord is what we earnestly desire, and since it cannot take place until after there has been a great falling away from the truth, it will be a pious act for us all to apostatize, and thus hasten the desired event." Such a course would have been the height of folly. Again, Paul says that "in the last days perilous times shall come," because of the selfishness of mankind, and19that men shall be "covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." 2 Tim. 3:1–5. Here is a list of grievous sins that the inspired record says shall be prevalent just before the coming of the Lord. Now would our friend say, "Why work against that consummation? Why not begin to commit these sins with all your might, and by increasing the amount of wickedness on the earth hasten the coming of the Lord?" He would not take any such position. He would say that the apostle's admonition to "turn away" from those who do such things, and to "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine," ought to be obeyed. The Bible says that these things will take place, but it does not oblige any body to take part in them. There is opportunity for every one to do right; but He who sees the end from the beginning, and knows the perversity of the human heart, could plainly see that the majority of mankind would not do right. Therefore the condition of things is portrayed, in order that those who desire may be warned. Christ said, "Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." Thus it is in the case under consideration. Just as the apostasy was foretold, which culminated in the papal abomination, so it is foretold that just before the coming of the Lord men will have so far departed from God, that they will be ready to exalt a rival power to the position which he should occupy, by yielding allegiance to its laws; that they will trample the Sabbath of the Lord under foot, and keep a day which is the badge of authority of the pope of Rome. Now shall those who love the Lord and long for his coming, think to hasten that event by joining his enemies? Preposterous! If our friend had read Rev. 14:9–12 he would hardly have suggested such a thing. But it will be urged that the National Reform movement differs from these other cases cited, in that it is carried on by Christian men, clergymen and other eminent men, men who are actuated by love to Christ. Still we claim that the cases are exactly parallel. Paul says that those who commit the sins enumerated in 2 Tim. 3:1–5, have a "form of godliness;" they are members of the church. It is the professed church of Christ, and not infidels, from whom the most is to be feared. All the persecutions that Christians have ever endured, have been the fruit of religious zeal. When men were burned to death at the instigation of the papacy, it was styled an "act of faith." Professed followers of Christ exerted themselves to punish so-called heretics, and the depth of their piety was measured by the zeal in persecution which they manifested. We are therefore not led astray by the professions of those who would exalt Sunday above the Sabbath. That there is much good in them, we admit. They set themselves against intemperance and many kindred vices; but this fact does not atone for their stand against the Sabbath. We acknowledge the good that is in the movement, and earnestly lift our voices against the manifest sin. We do not say that they sin intentionally, but that they are deceived. Many there are who will yet see their position, and will, like Paul, find pardon, because they did not sin willfully. Others will continue in their delusion. Our friend, like many others, misapprehends our position in regard to this movement. We have no idea that we can stop it. We would not waste our time in trying to do so. But we do intend to call attention to the evil, and warn men against taking a stand against the law of God. Having received the light, the blood of souls would be on us if we did not make it known to others. We are commanded to "cry aloud," to "sound an alarm," and we pray to be enabled to do this more effectually. And by so doing we are not hindering the Sunday movement, but in reality are hastening its consummation. If Christ, when on earth, had kept silent, the priests would have had no desire to put him to death; but every discourse, every act of mercy that he performed, only made them the more active in their opposition. If no one observed the Sabbath, and none were teaching its observance, there would be no activity among the observers of the Sunday. The more the light spreads in regard to the Sabbath, the more sharply is the line drawn between truth and error, and the sooner will the final decision be made. We expect that our motives will be misunderstood, and that we will be accused of joining the enemies of law and order, but this is nothing more than Christ himself had to endure, and "the servant is not greater than his Lord." We have the example of thousands of learned, eminent, and professedly pious men, to warrant us in choosing the path of error, but we are not to take any man as our pattern. Taking the word of God as our guide, we shall endeavor to follow its teachings, looking steadfastly unto Jesus, the author and perfector of the faith.