Boasters and Blasphemers.
By Wm. Penniman
We are taught that this class will arise in the last days. 2 Tim. 3:1, 2. Notice one of many instances which might be enumerated as a fulfillment of this prophecy. The quotation is from the Land Owner, a Chicago paper, of Oct., 1872. “There has been but one parallel to the mighty creation recorded in Genesis, and that is the rebuilding of Chicago in twelve months. That God made the world in six days by the exercise of divine power, is no greater a marvel than that man has erected three thousand brick and stone structures, a majority of them as costly and massive buildings as the world can boast, in three hundred working days.” It is true, that this is a great work; but to say that it is parallel to the creation of the world, and that it is equally as great a marvel as the creation of the world in six days, is blasphemous. The divine record says of God, “Great and marvelous are thy works.” The works of man may be wonderful, but they are not wonderful to the same degree as the works of God. Mortal man should remember that he was a part of the work of God in the six days of creation. And shall the machine boast of an equality, or of a parallel work to that of its maker? It is blasphemy. Man can pile up the brick and stone into massive edifices, but he cannot make the materials. “Is not this great Babylon that I have built . . . by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” There is too much of this spirit of boastfulness and self-exaltation among the would-be mighty men of this age; for is not this the substance of their language, “Is not this great Chicago that we have built by the might of our power, and for the honor of our majesty? Did not we show the world that we could get up a big fire, and have we not proved now, that if we could not build up our city as quickly as the fire burned it down, we have at least equaled the creation of the world in six days?” The writer may have written this to hear himself talk; but if he did not mean it, he should not have written it, as “what is written is written.” Speaking of the terrible fire, the same writer says: “But to counteract the dreadful memory will be the picture of the prosperous present, and the outlook for a most glorious future.” The forcible language, “Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth,” is not much heeded in this boastful age. The peace-and-safety cry, the good time coming, the glorious future, are the themes which are lulling the church and the world to sleep. May God forbid that those who profess to be Adventists should partake of this spirit. Wm. PENNIMAN.