S. B. WHITNEY by S. B. Whitney

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 24, 1878

S. B. WHITNEY

By S. B. Whitney

STRAWS.—NO. 3.

If the views of S. D. Adventists upon prophecy and its fulfillment are correct, and we are to see in the professed Christian church such opposition to God’s law, by means of legal enactment, and a virtual union of church and state, as will result in the persecution of those who are teaching and obeying that law, it is to be expected that there will exist, at the same time, a growing tendency to laxity in sentiment on the essential and vital principles of gospel doctrine, and a corresponding disregard of the authority of God’s word generally.

In illustration and confirmation of this thought the following case is in point: Recently the pastor of a Congregational church, composed largely of persons who had formerly been Scotch Presbyterians, after listening to a lecture on prophecy, made some remarks upon the subject of Scripture interpretation, in which he claimed that the language of the Bible was largely that of accommodation; that as God was to be seen and worshiped in nature as well as revelation, and the Bible was not designed to teach science, the wording of it must yield to the light of modern scientific research, in proof of which he stated that in all the attempts that have been made to harmonize the apparent discrepancies between science and the Bible, scientific men have not budged an inch, but the concessions have all been made by theologians.

On another occasion, after dissenting from the interpretation given of Matt. 24, he gave it as his opinion that there were three points involved in the chapter; viz., the destruction of Jerusalem, the general Judgment, and death, but Matthew, being the least erudite of all the evangelists, had “got things so jumbled up” that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine which portions of the chapter apply to each point.

In further attestation of the same point it may be said that the same minister recently preached a sermon on “Future Punishment,” in which he boldly advocated the final salvation of all men, and his church have published and are circulating it. It may be needless to add, although true, that he is the most popular man, as a minister, in the place where he resides.