“The Law and the Testimony.”
By N. G. Sanders
Some person, desirous no doubt that we should be enlightened on the absurdities of our faith, sent us the Crisis containing remarks of the editor about tent-meetings in California. Those remarks were read in my hearing, followed by an article from the same paper on spiritualism. As the first was read, I felt annoyed at the misrepresentation of the views of S. D. Adventists, but by the time the second was finished my annoyance was almost lost in observing the discord between the two articles. The spirit of the first was clearly enmity to the law of God, but the second arraigned spiritualists before that law. He quotes Isaiah 8: 19, 20: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Truth is said to be harmonious, but here was the Crisis trying to cast contempt on S. D. Adventists, because they believe the law binding on all men now; and then, in the same issue, arraigning a class of people before that law. Hasn’t the Crisis made a mistake in bringing Isaiah 8: 19, 20, over into the Christian dispensation? or did not the author of the prophecy foresee that the law would not be binding away down here? were we to insist on trying the Crisis by this detector, we should be in danger of deciding that “there is no light in them.” And why should we not use this rule, if it is of force against spiritualists? We, who claim to be Christians, ought not, certainly, to complain of being tested by it unless it can be shown that they are Jews and we are not. But the Crisis retains the testimony of the New Testament. Well, we are glad they have not gone so far yet as the class whom they arraign; but we would say to them, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” For how can the carpenter’s saw answer in the place of the square, or the measuring line? And we do not know that it would be amiss to add, “What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” And has he not here joined the law and the testimony? We are glad to meet you over this prophetic test, designed, as it no doubt is, for this time, and in view of the fact that you, with us, believe that Satan is working “with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send [has sent] them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” 2 Thess. 2: 9-11. And also that you should agree with us that we should test them by the law and the testimony. May we ask you to suffer a word of exhortation? It seems that receiving “the love of the truth” is a safeguard against this “delusion.” We should then hold ourselves in a position where we desire only to know that God speaks, and be ready to obey. This, brethren, is no child’s play that has fallen to the lot of Christians of the last generation. It will be a close work. It is even “the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3: 10. We shall need to live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” And if he tells us that, “when they shall say unto you [us], Seek unto them that have familiar spirits,” &c., we should test them by the law and the testimony, be assured it is because some one has been doing violence to the testimony, and taken the seal from the law; it is because some one has been doing violence to the testimony, and taken the seal from the law. And if, also, in the same connection, it is said, “Behold I, and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts,” does this not indicate that there will be a very peculiar people developed by this binding up of the testimony and sealing the law, not among Jews, but disciples? And if it is also true that one class is now counseling us to seek unto familiar spirits, &c., another obeying the injunction to “bind up the testimony, seal the law,” and others are opposing this work, have we not reached the very time indicated by this prophecy, and can we not see the part we are acting in this drama? Particularly when we remember that the wrath of the dragon is to be especially manifested against the “remnant which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ,” and we are told in Rev. 19: 10, that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” As children of God, brethren of the same family, with one common interest, and a common foe to meet; how can we afford to lose sight of a single truth of God’s word, or spurn one help which he offers, or to inveigh one against another. We should ever remember that the day that cometh will try the works of those who build of wood, hay, and stubble, and the great Refiner will know the true metal. Suffer me then to refer you to the admonition and counsel of one in another day, who said: “Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do touching these men. . . . And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it, lest, haply, ye be found even to fight against God.” Acts 5: 35, 38, 39. But I do not feel to leave you here. My heart yearns over the people of God, in and out of every denomination; as I realize that Satan is indeed working “with all power, and signs, and lying wonders.” Oh! how anxious should we be to “ask for the old paths,” and “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints;” to get our feet planted on the rock, and to know which way the Lord is leading. With what breathless anxiety should we listen to hear the word of command, and how joyfully should we fall into line of battle. Oh! how can we—how dare we—fight in our own ranks? This has ever been the stratagem of Satan. We are told that when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. And has he not come in like a flood? If so, where is the standard, and who will rally?