p. 34 | REVELATION VS. IMAGINATION

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 20, 1887

REVELATION VS. IMAGINATION.

By John Norton Loughborough

PAUL gives us (Rom. 1: 21, 24, 25) a vivid description of the tendency of those who, professing to follow reason and nature, in reality follow their own ways and thoughts. The apostle says: "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

That is, when all creation around them had taught them the fact of the existence of a Creator, who formed all things, they did not worship him as God, but followed their own imaginations. "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves; who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever."

A few facts will show the same tendency in modern times with those who seek to exalt human wisdom above the word of God. Let us look a few moments at the lives and teachings of some of the advocates of such a theory:

"Lord Herbert declared, that men are not hastily, or on small grounds, to be condemned, who are led to sin by bodily constitution; that the indulgence of lust and of anger is no more to be blamed than the thirst occasioned by the dropsy, or the drowsiness produced by lethargy. . . .

"Lord Bolingbroke resolved all morality into self-love as its principle, and taught that ambition, the lust of power, sensuality, and avarice may be lawfully gratified, if they can be safely gratified; that the sole foundation of modesty is vanity, or a wish to show ourselves superior to mere animals; that man lives only in the present world, and is only a superior animal; that the chief end of man is to gratify the appetites and inclinations of the flesh; that modesty is inspired by mere prejudice; and that polygamy is a part of the law or religion of nature. He also intimates that adultery is no violation of the law of nature; and that there is no wrong, except in the highest lewdness."—Horne's Introduction, Vol. 1, p. 25.

Mr. Hume maintained that self-denial, self-mortification, and humility are not virtues, but are useless and mischievous; that they stupefy the understanding, sour the temper, and harden the heart; that pride, self-valuation, ingenuity, eloquence, brilliancy of mind, easiness of expression, delicacy of taste, strength of body, and cleanliness are virtues; and, consequently, that to want honesty, to want understanding, and to want strength of body, are equally the subject of moral disapprobation; that adultery must be practiced if men would obtain all the advantages of life; that, if generally practiced, it would in time cease to be scandalous; and that if practiced secretly and frequently, it would by degrees come to be thought no crime at all!!!

Both Voltaire and Helvetius advocated the unlimited gratification of the sensual appetites, and the latter held that it is not agreeable to policy to regard gallantry (that is, unlawful intercourse with married women), as a vice in a moral sense; and that, if men will call it a vice, it must be acknowledged that there are vices which are useful in certain ages and countries! In other words, that in those countries such vices are virtues. Rousseau, a thief, a liar, and a debauched profligate, according to his own printed "Confession," also had recourse to feelings as his standard of morality. "I have only to consult myself," said he, "concerning what I do. All that I feel to be right, is right. Whatever I feel to be wrong, is wrong. All the morality of our actions lies in the judgment we ourselves form of them."

The question is asked by many, Why do those who follow nature as a guide run into such gross errors and wickedness? The simple answer, I conceive is this: That those who profess to follow nature, in reality follow self. Instead of having any real, fixed principles to follow, in the end they claim, as one writer above, that "whatever they feel to be right, is right," etc. They war against the Bible simply because it wars against self. Its injunction is, "Deny thyself." This they cannot submit to, and so war against the word. Perhaps you and I think we are safe from such a snare. "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." Our only safety is to deny ourselves, and take up every cross, or in the end we may be as hardened as any against the word of God.

The Bible description of those who may expect God's favor is in these words: "But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Isa. 66: 2. And though to pursue a course strictly in accordance with the word of God in all respects may cause us to make sacrifices, yet the Lord has said: "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; for God is Judge himself." Ps. 50: 3-6.

On the other hand, Paul describes the fate of those that fall at Christ's coming: "Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, . . . God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2: 10-12.

Deceptions are in the world. Snares are prepared by Satan for the feet of all who leave God's word to follow their own ways. May God help us to cleave to him, to cleave to his word, to ever walk in the way of truth. As expressed by our Saviour, "Walk in the light while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you." God help us all thus to walk, that in deed and in truth we may become more and more children of the light, in whom at last there shall be "no darkness at all."