DRAWING-DRIVING by J. H. Anthony

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 3, 1890

DRAWING—DRIVING.

By J. H. Anthony

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." John 12:32.

Ordinary iron is not magnetic. There is found in some parts of the world iron ore, commonly called loadstone, naturally possessing magnetism. A piece of such ore is called a natural magnet. It has peculiar attractive power.

Nearly all substances are affected by its subtle influence. This is especially true of iron, which, when kept in close contact with the loadstone for some time, becomes itself magnetized, and is prepared to influence other bodies.

Magnetism is a mysterious power. Of its real nature we know nothing. Its existence is known only by its effects.

With the above well-known facts before us, let us notice some corresponding facts in connection with the relation which the church sustains to Christ, and to the world about it:—

Man does not naturally possess the spirit of God. 1 Cor. 2:14.

There is a being, even the Lord Jesus Christ, upon whom the Father has bestowed his Spirit without measure. John 3:34

All the world are more or less affected by its invisible influence. John 16:8.

When an individual is brought in close contact with Christ, he becomes imbued with his Spirit, and is in turn prepared to influence others. John 15:5.

The Spirit of God is a mysterious power. We are ignorant of its real nature. Its existence is proved only by its effects. John 3:8.

The Lord has a work to perform in the world. His Spirit is the power by which he designs to accomplish that work. Zech. 4:6; John 16:7, 8. The church is the medium through which the Lord works by his Spirit in carrying forward his work. When the Saviour departed from the world, he instructed his followers: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway [by the Spirit], even unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:19, 20. Here we have presented the church of Christ in its infancy, with the promise of the Holy Spirit through all its existence; the iron, so to speak, to be infused with magnetism from heaven, and then to go through the world attracting to itself all who would respond to its divine influence.

What is true of the body must also be true of the individual members. Even the great Head of the church, upon beginning his ministry, said: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel." Here we see the great natural magnet, with unlimited power, exerting its influence upon the world. The apostle Paul says: "My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." 1 Cor. 2:4, 5. Here we see, as it were, an artificial magnet, created by intimate connection with Christ, "filled with all the fullness of God," manifesting that attractive influence which should characterize the follower of Christ.

There is nothing in the appearance of the magnet to indicate strength; nothing in its color, shape, or size by which to determine its power over other bodies by mere contact or proximity. So it is with the servant of God. Happy is that people who can discern in the one who ministers unto them in spiritual things,—whether he have profound learning, or the mere rudiments of worldly wisdom; whether he be endowed with superior eloquence, or "his speech be contemptible;" whether he have commanding dignity, or "his bodily presence be weak,"—I say, happy is that people who can discern in their leader the power of the Spirit of God, who can see behind the agent the principal, beyond the ambassador, the divine authority that has sent him.

Thus we see God's method as simple, yet effective. He works through humble means. His word makes no provision for a great stock of scientific knowledge. It makes no mention of the attractive power of the gilded dome, or the groined vault; of a select choir discoursing "vain repetitions," in charming music. The followers of the meek and lowly Jesus are not required to array themselves in uniform and parade the streets to the blow of the trumpet and the rattle of the drum. The Lord sets forth his method in Jer. 31:3: "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." Also in John 6:44: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him."

At different times in its history, the church has lost, almost wholly, its spiritual life. This is, to an alarming extent, its condition at the present time. This sad fact is too generally recognized to call for proof. What is the remedy? We know what remedy has been usually applied. When the church has lost its power to attract men to itself and to Christ, it has called to its aid the compelling power of the civil government. Anyone who is at all acquainted with church history knows the results,—corruption, hypocrisy, ignorance, superstition, intolerance, and persecution,—the legitimate fruits of the unnatural coalition of the Church with the State. Christ said to his followers: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John 15:18, 19. We may justly conclude from the above scripture that a pure church will always suffer at the hands of the world; that a degenerate church only can hope for support from an earthly power. Furthermore, a church vitalized by God's Spirit will feel no necessity for such support.

Imagine Christ instructing his apostles thus: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations as long as the Holy Spirit works in you, but when he departs from you; when your words no longer impress the hearts of those who

hear; when iniquity multiplies around you, and you dare not lift the voice of reproof, and are powerless to stay the flood of corruption, then unite as one man, present yourselves before the government under whose protection you live, and by every available means secure the aid of the civil law in enforcing upon the people the dogmas of the church. Raise such a clamor that the protected reputation of those connected with the government shall depend upon their granting your petition." How contrary to the Scriptures, and to the spirit of the gospel!

When a ship is in danger of sinking, it is often necessary to cast overboard weighty things, which, if clung to, would hasten her destruction. No matter what they have cost, they are not to be compared to human life, and must be sacrificed. When the ship of Zion is threatened with destruction, from the waves which roll about her, it becomes those in charge to lighten her of those weights which not only impede her progress, but if retained will drag her beneath the billows of the world which encompass her. Let the princely salaries of those who profess to be "ambassadors for Christ," the "Man of sorrows," be reduced to a reasonable recompense; let the hall of feasting and gambling be cut off from the church, and thrown back on the world, whence it came; let the professing Christian be esteemed according to his good works, and not according to his social standing or the length of his purse; let the downtrodden law of God be exalted and made the rule of life, and the consequent knowledge and confession of sin appear in the church; then would spiritual magnetism return, and the work assigned to her would be accomplished. The prayer of David should be the prayer of the backslidden church,—"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Ps. 51:12, 13.

This is a time when the representatives of Christ should "sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the midst" of Jerusalem; but, alas! the voice of remonstrance is seldom heard from the sacred desk. This is the time when the watchmen on the walls of Zion should be looking anxiously towards the west to discern the first glad glimmerings of the eternal dawn, that they may report, to those who inquire, the joyful tidings, "The morning cometh!" But, lo! few watchmen are found on the tower. They may be seen hurrying to and fro among the great men of the land, enlisting their support in a movement against which the Lord solemnly warns his people. Rev. 14:9–12.

But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. God’s word gives us no reason to hope for any better state of things. In 2 Tim. 3:1–5 we read "that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." In what more positive manner can the power of godliness be denied than by adopting human means to do the work which the Lord designs his Spirit shall accomplish?

Nevertheless, when the Saviour returns, he will find a faithful few who have "kept the word of his patience." Them will he make pillars in the temple of God, and they shall go no more out. See Rev. 3:12. J. H. ANTHONY.