The Law and the Testimony.
By A. H. Will
THE prophet of God says: "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." He here gives a sure and simple rule, by which all, with a little effort, can distinguish the truth from error, if they only desire to do so; and all will be left without excuse who refuse or neglect to heed this truthful guide of the Almighty. What law is this to which the prophet here directs us? The term the law is here used in the same sense as we use the word Bible, which means "the book, that is, the book of all books;" so in this instance, the law has reference to the law of all laws, than which there is no higher. It is the law of Jehovah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, in whose name the prophet speaks. That law which the Lord himself proclaimed with his own voice in the hearing of the people (Ex. 20:1-17), and engraved with his own finger on tables of stone. That law which David says "is perfect" (Ps. 19:7); of which Christ says one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till heaven and earth pass away (Matt. 5:18); of which the apostle Paul says, it is holy, and just, and good (Rom. 7:12); that law of liberty by which we shall be judged (James 2:11, 12). To this law we are directed by the prophet to look as the standard of truth. To the law! to the law! If any man speaks not according to this, it is because there is no light in him, and we can rest assured that he is not speaking forth words of truth and righteousness. We must also observe the other requisite, namely, the testimony; for if they speak not also according to this, it is because there is no light in them. If all men in all time had obeyed the law, that great standard of right, then the testimony would not have been needed; but because of sin, or transgression of the law, the testimony has in great mercy been given us to lead the transgressor again to obedience to the law, and thereby to true liberty. What is this testimony which is so unerring, so true a guide to truth? The word "testimony," as defined by Webster, signifies "a solemn declaration, or affirmation, made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact;" therefore in this instance it is a solemn declaration or affirmation, made for the purpose of establishing or proving the fact that the Lord of hosts, in whose name Isaiah is here speaking (Isa. 8:11), is the true, the all-wise God, whom alone it is our duty to obey and worship. The law itself is a testimony of the Lord; it in itself contains proof of its origin. The Creator of the heavens and the earth is expressly revealed in the fourth commandment. It is evident, however, that this is not the testimony here referred to, for the law is the first requisite of this rule of truth, which the prophet here gives us; therefore it is evident that there must be some other "solemn declaration" that testifies to the truth. Neither can it be that the prophet here refers to the Bible as a whole by the word testimony; for the law itself, as well as the testimony, is a part of the Bible. There must be some part of holy writ that testifies to, or proves, its heavenly origin. In Rev. 19:10 we read this positive statement: "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." The testimony of Jesus and that of the Father are one and the same thing; for Jesus and the Father are one. John 17:21. Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life," and no man cometh unto the Father but by him. John 14:6. By him also the worlds were made. Heb. 1:2. His name is called the Word of God. Rev. 19:13. We have now seen that the testimony is the spirit of prophecy. And here we may ask, Is prophecy an evidence of the divine existence? Read: "I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done." "Who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me." "I have even from the beginning declared it unto thee; before it came to pass I showed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them." Isa. 46:9, 10; 45:21; 48:5. Thus God says that prophecy is an evidence that he has spoken. It is therefore "the testimony" to which we must appeal in connection with "the law." But the prophecy all tells of Christ and his work, either in his first advent or in his second. In this place, however, it has special reference to his second advent. See Isa. 8:17. Hear what Peter says: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts." 2 Peter 1:19. This sure word of prophecy shineth as a light in a dark place shineth ahead of us. By heeding this sure word of prophecy, the truth will dawn unto us as the clear light of day. This sure word of prophecy unmistakably points us to that true Daystar, Jesus the Son of God, as he comes in his glory; for it is this of which Peter is speaking. He says: "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." "We have also a more sure word of prophecy," etc. It is not the object, nor is it possible in so brief an article, to produce all this prophetic testimony; neither is it necessary to all who have a desire to know the truth; we would recommend them to read in connection with the Bible that admirable work by Uriah Smith, "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation," which they will find a great help in understanding this all-important subject. We shall here briefly consider a part of the testimony given through Daniel the prophet, of which our Saviour says, "Whoso readeth let him understand." Matt. 24:15. In the second and seventh chapters we find recorded the outlines of the history of the world from Daniel's time. Ask any school-boy of ordinary ability, and he will tell you that there were four universal kingdoms on the earth since the time of Daniel, namely, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. In the eighth chapter, the first three are called by name. In the second chapter they are represented by the image of a man, shown by the four main divisions of the human body,—the head, breast and arms, sides, and legs. In the seventh, they are represented by four wild beasts, and in both of these chapters we find the explanation of these symbols, namely, that they represent four universal kingdoms that were to come on the earth before the great and everlasting kingdom of God would be set up. In chapter seven, verses 24, 25, after the division of the fourth kingdom, is shown a little horn arising among the ten, which was so Heaven-defying as to undertake to change the law. Every student of history knows that the papacy has ascribed to itself prerogatives belonging only to God; and by nothing has it shown its true character better than by the act of trying to abolish the second, and to change the fourth and ninth commandments of the law. This shows us how careful the testimony is to point out any tampering with the law. But the main lesson of this prophetic testimony is this: These four consecutive human kingdoms were pointed out to us during the reign of the first, the Babylonian, as the only universal kingdoms or powers that were to precede on this earth the fifth or heavenly kingdom. History has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that these prophecies were given at the very time it is declared that they were given, more than 2,400 years ago, and all has come to pass precisely as was foretold. Is not this positive evidence that it comes from Him who "ruled in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will"? Where is the human science that can compare with this testimony? Where is another testimony of anything in Heaven or on earth that can equal this? If any man will not accept this as ample evidence that the testimony comes from the true, the all-wise God, neither would he believe if the Lord himself would, with his own voice, proclaim the truth from on high. To this law and this testimony we must cling; for upon all who reject them will come that which was spoken by Paul: "For this cause 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. 2:11, 12. But has not the law and the testimony been faithfully held up to the people of the world for the last half century? Most certainly it has. Have the people believed it? A few have, but the great majority have not heeded it, but have rather hearkened to the cry of "peace and safety," and to the conscience-searing, peeping and muttering of familiar spirits and wizards. And what is the result of neglecting to heed such great light and truth? It is darkness, confusion, and impending destruction. But now, seeing this confusion and these impending calamities, what are the people who reject the law and the testimony proposing to do to remedy these difficulties? Let the prophet answer: "Say ye not a confederacy. This people talk of nothing but a confederacy." Isa. 8:12 (German translation). That is it exactly. And now we have Knights of Labor, Anti-Chinese, National Reform, Socialist, and innumerable other organizations, all confederations to rectify or alleviate the present and impending difficulties. But hear again what the prophet says: "Associate yourselves, O ye people, yet [margin] ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand." Verses 9, 10. In the 13th and 14th verses he shows us the true and only way out of these difficulties. "Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread; and he shall be for a sanctuary." This Lord of hosts who has given us his sure testimony, he is the true Lord; he alone can truly help us. Dear reader, are you heeding the testimony of the Most High? Which will you believe, the deceptive, wonder-working power of familiar spirits which drives to "darkness and dimness of anguish" (verse 22), or will you believe the sure testimony of the Most High, which leads in the way of light shining more and more unto the perfect, glorious day? Let us all take heed and be diligent to choose wisely whom we will believe. In these last days of trouble and confusion, we should be exceedingly thankful that the Lord has in his great mercy given us so clear a testimony to the truth. Let us all be diligent to observe with renewed zeal the way of this true guide so that we may not be deceived during the last hour of trial that will come upon all the world. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." A. H. WILL.