A Comparison by Eliza H. Morton

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 16, 1875

A Comparison.

By Eliza H. Morton

As we look back over the long history of this world, we see many things in the past which are types of coming events. Israel of old is a type of the church of God in the gospel dispensation. In the former dispensation, for centuries, God talked with man, as it were, face to face. He dwelt in the flaming Shechinah, and made known the oracles of his will. Prophets appeared at intervals and God manifested himself in a special manner to the children of men.

But a change came. For a period of three hundred years no prophet appeared in Israel, and God ceased to hold intercourse with his chosen people. The glory of Israel departed, and Jehovah made no sign that he heard the prayers or heeded the sacrifices of the worshipers in his temple. What was the cause of these tokens of divine displeasure?

The priests had become corrupt, and the great body of Levites, save in outward form, had little more true religion than the priests of Roman idolatry. The outer court of the temple was thronged with merchants, who, under plea of selling victims for sacrifices, carried on every sort of traffic. But little reverence was manifested for sacred things, and the magnificent ceremonies of the temple, with all their gorgeousness, were simply a gilded show, whitewashed without, but unclean and rotten within.

The hope of ancient Israel centered in the Shiloh to come, who was to restore all things. At length the long silence was broken by the “voice of one crying in the wilderness,” and then “He came for whom the ages waited;” but the people were not prepared to receive him, and rejected and crucified their only hope.

Let us now make a comparison. The former part of this dispensation was marked by the outpouring of God's Spirit, and many miracles were wrought by Christ's disciples. The church at first was a separate and peculiar people and walked with God in humility of heart; but a change came. The world crept in, and the fine gold became dim. The ministers preached smooth things and pleasing fables, and succeeded in making the religion of Jesus appear popular in the eyes of the world. Costly churches have been built and the pomp of religious services has so increased that the mighty men of earth, the wealthy, the fashionable, and the proud, together bow before the altar.

The hope of modern Israel centers in the second appearing of the Messiah and the setting up of his everlasting kingdom. The mass of the people of the present age are as much deceived in regard to the manner of his second appearing as ancient Israel were in regard to his first advent.

I will not carry out the comparison. Every candid mind can see the similarity between the two ages of the world.

I do not say that the church of God has entirely lost its power. I believe there are Christians in all denominations; and I believe that when the Master returns he will find a people waiting for him and ready for translation. ELIZA H. MORTON.

Allen's Corner, Me.