The Tabernacle Pulpit by A. J. B.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 6, 1901

The Tabernacle Pulpit.

By A. J. B.

A STIRRING discourse was delivered by Elder A. T. Jones, Sabbath, August 3, the keynote of which was “Individual Self-government.” Self-government is an attribute of God; it is a divine principle. The world has had but little relief from the oppression of kingly tyrants since the founding of the first earthly empire, by Nimrod. When despotism reached its height, and oppression predominated everywhere, God sent His only Son, who preached the principle of individual self-government — the essence of Christianity.

The mission of the gospel is to restore to man the power of self-government which he had when first created in Eden. The people having become wearied of the oppression of kings, developed the Roman Republic. But this soon degenerated into a despotism; and when Rome fell, there arose ten kingdoms; and kingdoms were again the only forms of existing government. Then arose the great republic of the United States, founded upon the principle of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But this, like the Roman Republic before it, is also degenerating into despotism. As Christ came the first time, just as the world was wearied by the oppression of despots who could not govern themselves, so will it be at His second coming.

Men who are not able to govern themselves are the very first ones to think that they must govern others. It is the same with governments. Individuals who can and do govern themselves, never interfere in the governing of others. Governments unable to govern themselves are now seeking to govern other nations, the world over, and are the readiest to insist that others cannot govern themselves. The Christian is freed from the bondage of sin, through Christ, and is thereby enabled fully to govern himself. He only is a free man who is capable of self-government.

A. J. B.